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

By then the rest of the troupe was hurrying over. Marka dodged away and ducked into her fatherтАЩs tent.
Naked, on her hands and knees, Rimi was desperately scraping earth over a hole in the dirt floor. The
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html




stem of a pipe stuck up through it. Marka grabbed her by the hair, pulled her up, and slapped her across
the face. She squealed like a pig and slapped back, all feeble and limp-wristed.

тАЬFilth! You piece of gutter filth!тАЭ Marka hit her again. тАЬYouтАЩve been giving my father opium. I should
turn you over to the archon. I should kill you.тАЭ

Squealing and swearing, Rimi tried to writhe away. Marka went for her throat just as Keeta grabbed her
from behind. There was no use struggling in those massive hands.

тАЬDelya, get the little whore dressed and out here!тАЭ Keeta dragged Marka back. тАЬYou, young lady, are
coming with me.тАЭ

Outside, the acrobats were mobbing round Hamil, clamoring questions. Keeta marched Marka over to
the fire pit, where Salamander was standing and studying the dead coals as if they interested him very
much indeed. One or two at a time, the acrobats gave Hamil up as a bad job and drifted over. Marka
began to sob convulsively, whether in rage or grief she didnтАЩt quite know. KeetaтАЩs icy voice cut through
her hysteria.

тАЬHeтАЩs done this before, has he?тАЭ

тАЬNot for years. He promised. Why do you think my mother left him?тАЭ

тАЬShe left you with him?тАЭ Vinto broke in.

тАЬHe wouldnтАЩt let me go. And he promised to stop. He promised.тАЭ

She forced back tears and looked up. Keeta had turned away appalled, shaking her head over and
over. Vinto ran both hands through his hair and stared at the ground for a long moment.

тАЬWell,тАЭ he said at last. тАЬIтАЩm sorry, little Marka, but me and the boys are pulling out. We can earn enough
on our own to get back toMainIsland, anyway, and weтАЩll think of something to do then.тАЭ He glanced at
Keeta. тАЬYou and Delya are welcome to come with us.тАЭ

Keeta sighed sharply, hesitated, then looked at Marka.

тАЬOnly if you come, too, little one. I canтАЩt just leave you here.тАЭ

Marka felt as if her tongue had swelled to block her throat. She could only stare numbly at her friendтАЩs
face.

тАЬYou little bitch, you viper!тАЭ Rimi marched over, dressed now and wrapped in dignity as well. тАЬYouтАЩd
better go with them! Do you think IтАЩm going to put up with you after this?тАЭ