"Ursula K. LeGuin - Earthsea 4 - Tehanu" - читать интересную книгу автора (Le Guin Ursula K)

things arenтАЩt what they used to be and the worldтАЩs going to the dogs. In the last several years there had
been a loss of peace and trust in the towns and countrysides of Gont. Young men behaved like strangers
among their own people, abusing hospitality, stealing, selling what they stole. Beggary was common
where it had been rare, and the unsatisfied beggar threatened violence. Women did not like to go alone in
the streets and roads, nor did they like that loss of freedom. Some of the young women ran off to join the
gangs of thieves and poachers. Often they came home within the year, sullen, bruised, and pregnant. And
among village sorcerers and witches there was rumor of matters of their
profession going amiss: charms that had always cured did not cure; spells of finding found nothing, or the
wrong thing; love potions drove men into frenzies not of desire but of murderous jealousy. And worse
than this, they said, people who knew nothing of the art of magic, the laws and limits of it and the dangers
of breaking them, were calling themselves people of power, promising wonders of wealth and health to
their followers, promising even immortality.
Ivy, the witch of GohaтАЩs village, had spoken darkly of this weakening of magic, and so had Beech, the
sorcerer of Valmouth. He was a shrewd and modest man, who had come to help Ivy do what little could
be done to lessen the pain and scarring of TherruтАЩs burns. He had said to Goha, тАЬI think a time in which
such things as this occur must be a time of ruining, the end of an age. How many hundred years since
there was a king in Havnor? It canтАЩt go on so. We must turn to the center again or be lost, island against
island, man against man, father against child He had glanced at her, somewhat timidly, yet with his
clear, shrewd look. тАЬThe Ring of Erreth-Akbe is restored to the Tower in Havnor,тАЭ he said. тАЬI know who
brought it there That was the sign, surely, that was the sign of the new age to come! But we havenтАЩt acted
on it. We have no king. We have no center. We must find our heart, our strength. Maybe the Archmage
will act at last.тАЭ And he added, with confidence тАЬAfter all, he is from Gont.тАЭ
But no word of any deed of the Archmage, or any heir to the Throne in Havnor, had come; and things
went badly on.
So it was with fear and a grim anger that Goha saw the four men on the road before her step two to each
side, so that she and the child would have to pass between them.
As they went walking steadily forward, Therru kept very close beside her, holding her head bent down,
but she did not take her hand.
One of the men, a big-chested fellow with coarse black hairs on his upper lip drooping over his mouth,
began to speak, grinning a little. тАЬHey, there,тАЭ he said, but Goha spoke at the same time and louder. тАЬOut
of my way!тАЭ she said, raising her alder stick as if it were a wizardтАЩs staff-тАЭ I have business with Ogion!тАЭ
She strode between the men and straight on, Therru trotting beside her. The men, mistaking effrontery for
witchery, stood still. OgionтАЩs name perhaps still held power. Or perhaps there was a power in Goha, or in
the child. For when the two had gone by, one of the men said, тАЬDid you see that?тАЭ and spat and made the
sign to avert evil.
 тАЬWitch and her monster brat,тАЭ another said. тАЬLet em go!тАЭ
Another, a man in a leather cap and jerkin, stood staring for a moment while the others slouched on
their way. His face looked sick and stricken, yet he seemed to be turning to follow the woman and child,
when the hairy-lipped man called to him, тАЬCome on, Handy!тАЭ and he obeyed.
Out of sight around the turn of the road, Goha had picked up Therm and hurried on with her until she
had to set her down and stand gasping. The child asked no questions and made no delays. As soon as
Goha could go on again, the child walked as fast as she could beside her, holding her hand.
тАЬYouтАЩre red,тАЭ she said. тАЬLike fire.тАЭ
She spoke seldom, and not clearly, her voice being very hoarse; but Goha could understand her.
тАЬIтАЩm angry,тАЭ Goha said with a kind of laugh. тАЬWhen IтАЩm angry I turn red. Like you people, you red
people, you barbarians of the western lands. Look, thereтАЩs a town
...


there ahead, thatтАЩll be Oak Springs. ItтАЩs the only village on this road. WeтАЩll stop there and rest a little.