"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 06 - A Time Of Omens" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

rope, which hung between the twin wooden towers of the mounting platforms, a good six feet above the
stage itself. With a big smile for crowd she climbed up and did a back flip on the platform. She
bowedтАФseveral times too many in MarkaтАЩs estimationтАФthen took the balance pole and leapt to the
rope for a graceful half run across, balancing in the middle. When the crowd cheered and clapped, she
executed a good turn, and ran back to the platform so lightly and easily that the crowd yelled in delight.
Marka could practically taste her own anger, a black bile in her mouth. As Orima mounted the rope
again, she hesitated for the barest second, just the split of a moment too long. The rope swung, then
snapped back; her lead foot groped and grabbedтАФtoo late. With a shriek she fell, landing spraddled on
all fours, unhurt but furious as the crowd burst out laughing. Swearing under his breath Hamil rushed to
help her up while the tumblers ran back on stage and hurled themselves into an improvised routine. It was
no good. Laughing and chuckling, calling out a few insults, the crowd broke up and drifted away, and
they didnтАЩt bother to throw a single coin behind them, not even for good luck.

In a sullen silence, barely able to look at each other, the troupe doused the torches, stripped the stage,
and loaded everything into the wagons while Orima cowered under a nearby palm. Marka was frankly
terrified, blaming her ill will for the fall even as she told herself, over and over, that such things were
impossible. Much to her relief, no one mentioned the fall until they got back to the campground, where
Delya and young Rosso were keeping an eye on the tents. While the men tended the horses and wagons,
Hamil and the women drifted miserably over to the fire. Delya took one good look at their faces and said
nothing. The silence grew until Orima screwed her face in a pout and pointed one painted fingernail at
Marka.

тАЬShe hexed me!тАЭ Orima screeched. тАЬYour precious little daughter hexed me! SheтАЩs got the evil eye.тАЭ

тАЬOh, donтАЩt be ridiculous!тАЭ Hamil snapped. тАЬWe all fall now and then.тАЭ

тАЬSheтАЩs got the evil eye!тАЭ Orima stamped one slender foot.

тАЬWill you shut up? If your head wasnтАЩt so empty you might have better balance on the rope.тАЭ

тАЬYou pig! You filthy rooting hog!тАЭ

Orima and Hamil began sneering and screeching in turns. The rest of the troupe rolled eyes heavenward
and trotted off, bursting into chatter as soon as they were well away from the slanging match by the fire.
Marka raced off after Keeta. She knew how the fight would end; they would suddenly be all kisses and
hugs and creep into their tent . . . she didnтАЩt want to think about it. In the moonlight the two women
walked along the edge of the cliff and watched the waves foaming below.

тАЬKeeta?тАЭ Marka said at last. тАЬYou donтАЩt think wishing someone ill can work them ill, do you?тАЭ

Keeta laughed, her dark rumble of a bellow as reassuring as a motherly hug.
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тАЬNo, I most certainly donтАЩt. Why? Feeling a bite of guilt, hum?тАЭ

тАЬWell, it sounds silly now.тАЭ