"Keith Laumer - Bolos 6 - Cold Steel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Laumer Keith)

She hesitated. "No, my lord, I have not. The old women say that is where the blood of our
males becomes poisoned. The eggs are returned with tiny punctures in the skins. The old women
say that is where it goes in, like venom from a sting-lizard's tongue."
"The old women make up stories to frighten the likes of you, first-wife. Forget what they tell
you, and deliver our eggs for their blessing before it is too late."
"I speak these things because the lord should know what the females think. It is not just the
old women. They tire of seeing their family males driven to madness by the fire within. They tire
of losing their mates, their sons and brothers to duels, to challenges, and now to war. They fear
that we will only anger the devils and that they will come and kill us all."
"If it's the will of the Ones Above that we die in our war against the devils, then so be it. But
we are taught that one clan will rise above the others and show the Ones Above where the human
devils are weak, where they can most easily be destroyed. That is why the clans must not mingle,
why we must be different of custom and of form, so that we may demonstrate which is best. And
once that clan has the devils on the run, then the Ones Above will sweep down from the skies and
finish the job. The clan that shows the way will be our clan, and honored will be our place in the
heavens at the side of the Ones Above."
"Who will be left to sit at their side, lord? You? Will your sons live to see that day?
Remember that you have another one. Will you spill his blood too?"
"Is that what you really came to talk about? Sharpwing is barely out of the egg."
"Sharpwing is old enough at least to think he can fight, and he is younger, his blood burns
hotter yet than his brother's. He is furious at what you have done. He longs to die for the Ones
Above. I think he will challenge you. Perhaps soon."
"Then I will do what I must do. Blackspike will heal. He must become lord of the clan, for the
good of all. Sharpwing is my chick, but he is no leader. I will do what I must."
There was silence for a time. "Do not kill Sharpwing, husband. If you kill him, Whitestar, I
will never forgive you. You will still be lord, but I will be sure that your time is never happy
again."
Then she turned and left him alone in the darkness.
Alone with his own thoughts. "As though my time is happy now," he said quietly.
***
Tyrus awoke in darkness, head pounding, his face against cold, smooth, metal.
"Remain still and silent."
The words seemed to fill Tyrus Ogden's head, making the pain even worse. It took him a
moment to remember what had happened. The explosion, the massive maintenance building
trembling and collapsing around him. He had tried to get in the Bolo. Had he made it? The
agonizing voice in his head suggested that he had.
"Do you wish me to turn on the lights?"
"Please," he whispered, knowing the Bolo would hear him. Then thinking about it, "dim
lights."
A faint, red light bathed the area. He was in some sort of narrow machine space. A drive shaft
as big around as his body punched through the compartment. Behind him was the closed hatch.
Ahead was a tube with a sloping ladder that led up into darkness. "Where am I?"
"My number two ventral maintenance access. My internal sensors are fully intact, and
indicate that you have a mild concussion. I do not believe that you will die."
"Thanks for that happy bit of news." He reached up to feel the large knot on top of his head,
and winced. It least he didn't seem to be bleeding much. He tried to move his arm under his body
to push himself up into a sitting position. He had to get to his wife and children, to make sure
they were all right.
"If you must move," the Bolo's voice said, "do so quietly. The enemy is near, scanning the
debris for survivors. There have been a number of patrols since the attack."