"J. Robert King - Invasion Cycle 02 - Planeshift" - читать интересную книгу автора (King Robert J)

rumbled like a distant waterfall. It was Karn, peering from
the ship's forward lanterns. As Multani lived in every
wooden part of the great ship, Karn lived in every metallic
one. A golem fashioned of silver, he was the ship's engineer
and, in some ways, the ship's engine. The face is certainly
Hanna's, but the hair... ?
Yes, replied Multani. Smooth, hard magnigoth bark
thickened across the figure. It is Hanna, and it is not.
Who then? asked Karn.
It is Gaea, the world soul, Multani responded reverently.
This is her war. It is she who is squared off against Yawgmoth.
There was silence for a time. Karn was as much an
immortal as Multani, and together the two had been
reshaping Weatherlight. Through intuition and inspiration,
they transformed her toward her final configuration. She
was to be the ultimate weapon in this ultimate war.
It is a good change, Multani.
Thank you. No sooner were these words formed than
something shifted in the gloaming darkness beyond the
ship, something massive. Did you sense that? Multani asked.
Yes, was all Karn said. There was no time for more.
Already he was drawing back from the main engine core.
Metal conduits slid free from the neural nexuses of his
hands. He broke mental contact with the engine. Massive



3
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and slow, the silver man rocked back on his heels. He rose,
a bit unsteadily, and turned to climb to the deck.
Multani was faster. He withdrew from the figurehead
and coursed up through planks to rise on the forecastle
deck. He assembled a body for himself out of a splintered
rail and the living hemp of a frayed rope. Fashioned of
plant life, Multani stood at Weatherlight's prow. With
knothole eyes, he stared out across the desert of Koilos.
Around the ship in every direction spread dark tents
and drowsing soldiers. They numbered fifty thousand.
Their empty wine jacks and strewn armor told of the recent
revels. Beyond the encamped armies stood the nine metal
giants that had helped the army win the Battle of Koilos.
These titan engines seemed gods of old, poised at the rim of
the world. As huge as ships, as deadly as armies, the titans
had left their gargantuan footprints across this barren
wastes. Imbedded in those footprints were carapace and
bone, all that remained of the creatures that had opposed
them. Now the titan engines stood empty, staring darkly at
the camp they guarded.