"George R. R. Martin - In the House of the Worm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

"Down?" Riess asked.

"No,├втВмтАв said Groff. ├втВм┼УToo late. He would find us still climbing, and cut the rope.├втВмтАв He shrugged
and straightened and hefted his ax. ├втВм┼УNo matter. We know all we need. He is not of the yaga-la-hai,
as those close to the Manworm suspected. He brings meat to both men and grouns, this Meatbringer."

Annelyn stood at Groff's side, rapier in hand, balancing nervously on the balls of his feet. Riess, trembling,
yanked free a knife. The Meatbringer appeared in the doorway, Vermyllar's corpse slung over his
shoulder.

The three worm-children were cloaked by shadows, in the darkest part of the junction, while the
Meatbringer had just come from a well-lit chamber. It was no advantage. He looked straight at them.

"So,├втВмтАв he said, and he shrugged, letting Vermyllar's body slide to the floor with a thunk. His own
blade, long and just recently wiped clean of blood, materialized in his hand. ├втВм┼УSo,├втВмтАв he said again.
├втВм┼УDo the yaga-la-hai now come this deep?"

"Some,├втВмтАв said Groff, lifting his ax lightly. Annelyn felt strangely light-headed and confident; bloodlust
coursed through him. He would have his revenge, and Vermyllar's too. The Meatbringer could never
stand before Groff. He was so squat and ugly, while the bronze knight was a near-giant, invulnerable
even without his armor. Besides, he was there, and Riess too, though Riess hardly counted.

"What do you want?├втВмтАв the Meatbringer said, in the coarse low voice Annelyn remembered so well
from the masque.

"To quiet your torch-tending tongue,├втВмтАв Annelyn blurted, before Groff could answer. The Meatbringer
looked at him for the first time, and chuckled.

"Who are you bringing meat to now?├втВмтАв Groff asked.

The Meatbringer chuckled again. ├втВм┼УThe grouns, of course."

"Are you a man? Or a new kind of groun?"
"Both. Neither. I have walked black tunnels alone for a long time. I was born a torch-tender, yes. But a
special kind. Like the grouns, I see in total darkness. Like the yaga-la-hai, I can live and see in light.
Both sorts of meat are pleasing.├втВмтАв He showed a row of yellowed teeth. ├втВм┼УI am flexible."

"One other question, before I kill you,├втВмтАв Groff said. ├втВм┼УThe Manworm would know why."

The Meatbringer laughed; his thick body shook and the cape of golden ringlets danced on his shoulders.
├втВм┼УThe Manworm! You want to know, Groff, not your mindless master. Why? Because among the
yaga-la-hai I am something less than a man, because among grouns I am something less than a groun. I
am the first of the Third People. The yaga-la-hai decline, as do the grouns, but I go among both and
plant my seed"├втВмтАЭhe looked at Annelyn├втВмтАЭ"in those like Caralee, and in the groun-women. Soon there
will be others like me. That is why. And to know. I know more than your Manworm, or you, more than
the Great Groun. You live lies, but I have seen and heard all who live in the House of the Worm, and I
believe none of it. The White Worm is a lie, do you know that? And the Manworm. I think I even know
how that came to be. A pleasant tale. Shall I tell you?"