"Richard A. Knaak - The Kingdom Of Shadow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Knaak Richard A)

mercenaries could rely on its simple animal mind a little longerтАФ

Gorst had a line set to toss. He did not wait for Kentril to give the order, already understanding what the
captain wanted. The giant threw the loop with unerring accuracy, snagging the rope on the right horn.

тАЬOskal! Try to throw Hargo a line! Benjin! Get that rope on the other horn! You twoтАФgive Gorst a
hand with that now!тАЭ

Stout Oskal tossed his rope toward the weakening, blood-soaked figure in the behemothтАЩs maw. Hargo
tried in vain to grab it, but it fell short. The tentacle beast hissed again and tried to retreat, only to have
the line held by Gorst and the other two men keep it from getting very far.

тАЬBenjin! The other horn, damn you!тАЭ

тАЬTell тАЩim to quit wigglinтАЩ, and I will, captain!тАЭ

Oskal threw the rope again, and this time Hargo managed to grab it. With what strength he had, he
looped it around him.

The entire tableau reminded Kentril of some macabre game. Again he cursed himself for accepting this
contract, and he cursed Quov Tsin for having offered it in the first place.

Wherewasthe foul sorcerer? Why had he not come running with the rest? Could he be dead?

The captain doubted his luck could be that good. Whatever the VizjereiтАЩs present circumstances, they
would have no effect on the desperate situation here. Everything rested on KentrilтАЩs already burdened
shoulders.

A few of the fighters continued to try to wound the serpentine monster in any way they could.
Unfortunately, the tough hide of the tentacle beast prevented those with lances and swords from doing
any harm, and the two archers still at work had to watch out for fear of slaying the very man they hoped
to save.

A rope caught the left horn. Captain Dumon fought back the swell of hope he felt; it had been one thing
to catch the monster, but now they had to bring it in.

тАЬEveryone who can, grab onto the lines! Bring that thing onto shore! ItтАЩll be more clumsy, more
vulnerable on land!тАЭ

He joined with the others, pulling on the line Benjin had tossed. The tentacle beast hissed loudly, and
although it clearly understood at some level the danger it faced, it still did not release its captive. Kentril
could generally admire such tenacity in any living creature, but not when the life of one of his men was
also at stake.

тАЬPull!тАЭ the captain shouted, sweat from the effort making his brown shirt cling to his body. His leather
bootsтАФhis fine leather boots that he had bought with the pay from his last contractтАФsank into the muddy
ground near the river. Despite four men on each rope, it took all they could give just to inch the aquatic
horror onto the shore.

Yet inch it they did, and as the bulk of the beast came onto land, the mercenariesтАЩ efforts redoubled. A