"Ursula K. LeGuin - Earthsea 3 - The Farthest Shore" - читать интересную книгу автора (Le Guin Ursula K)

old, unyielding weapon, the deadly thing he had inherited. He did not feel like swaggering any
more. "What am I doing?" he said to himself as he climbed the narrow ways, not hurrying now, to
the fortress-bulk of the Great House above the town. "How is it that I'm not going home? Why am I
seeking something I don't understand, with a man I don't know?"
And he had no answer to his questions.


------
Hort Town
------

In the darkness before dawn Arren dressed in clothing that had been given him, seaman's
garb, wellworn but clean, and hurried down through the silent halls of the Great House to the
eastern door, carven of horn and dragon's tooth. There the Doorkeeper let him out and pointed the
way that he should take, smiling a little. He followed the topmost street of the town and then a
path that led down to the boathouses of the School, south along the bay shore from the docks of
Thwil. He could just make out his way. Trees, roofs, hills bulked as dim masses within dimness;
the dark air was utterly still and very cold; everything held still, held itself withdrawn and
obscure. Only over the dark sea eastward was there one faint, clear line: the horizon, tipping
momently toward the unseen sun.
He came to the boathouse steps. No one was there; nothing moved. In his bulky sailor's
coat and wool cap he was warm enough, but he shivered, standing on the stone steps in the
darkness, waiting.
The boathouses loomed black above black water, and suddenly from them came a dull, hollow
sound, a booming knock, repeated three times. Arren's hair stirred on his scalp. A long shadow
glided out onto the water silently. It was a boat, and it slid softly toward the pier. Arren ran
down the steps onto the pier and leapt down into the boat.
"Take the tiller," said the Archmage, a lithe, shadowy figure in the prow, "and hold her
steady while I get the sail up."
They were out on the water already, the sail opening like a white wing from the mast,
catching the growing light. "A west wind to save us rowing out of the bay, that's a parting gift
from the Master Windkey, I don't doubt. Watch her, lad, she steers very light! So then. A west
wind and a clear dawn for the Balance-Day of spring."
"Is this boat Lookfar?" Arren had heard of the Archmage's boat in songs and tales.
"Aye," said the other, busy with ropes. The boat bucked and veered as the wind freshened;
Arren set his teeth and tried to keep her steady.
"She steers very light, but somewhat willful, lord."
The Archmage laughed. "Let her have her will; she is wise also. Listen, Arren," and he
paused, kneeling on the thwart to face Arren, "I am no lord now, nor you a prince. I am a trader
called Hawk, and you're my nephew, learning the seas with me, called Arren; for we hail from
Enlad. From what town? A large one, lest we meet a townsman."


file:///F|/rah/Ursula%20LeGuin/LeGuin,%20Ursula...20Earthsea%203%20-%20The%20Farthest%20Shore.txt (12 of 75) [1/19/03 3:51:29 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/Ursula%20LeGuin/LeGuin,%20Ursula%20K%20-%20Earthsea%203%20-%20The%20Farthest%20Shore.txt

"Temere, on the south coast? They trade to all the Reaches."
The Archmage nodded.
"But," said Arren cautiously, "you don't have quite the accent of Enlad."
"I know. I have a Gontish accent," his companion said, and laughed, looking up at the