"Ann Maxwell - The Jaws of Menx" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

тАЬWhat do you want from me?тАЭ he asked with an abruptness that was the prerogative of a future RA
Jacaroen. тАЬAll my memories of Menx and TтАЩael are simulcubed in the Concord files on Centrex.тАЭ
тАЬAll?тАЭ
Crystal trembled with delicate music. Rhane did not want to remember. Shiya had been young, but
Menx years were not the same as Siolan. She was neither child nor woman, rather a fascinating
combination. He did not blame himself for wanting her. He did blame himself for what happened. He
should have knownтАФ
тАЬSome of my memories had no historical context,тАЭ said Rhane, his voice untroubled in spite of his
inner turmoil.
The womanтАЩs breath came out in a sigh that was echoed by crystal vibrations.
тАЬIf you were to go to MenxтАФтАЭ
тАЬYou said the Council refusedтАФтАЭ
тАЬIf you were to go to Menx,тАЭ repeated Meriel, overriding RhaneтАЩs objection with a single hooded
glance, тАЬyou would need a guide. The girl who helped your fatherтАФwhat was her name?тАЭ
тАЬShiya,тАЭ Rhane said tightly.
тАЬYes. Shiya. She has built a home on Mure Lake.тАЭ
MerielтАЩs eyes watched intently, but Rhane showed nothing of his inner emotions. He left his sleepless
brother by Mure Lake. He also had left Shiya, but she had been asleep, smiling. His young brother was
dead, and Shiya was alive.
тАЬI doubt if Shiya would agree to guide me,тАЭ said Rhane evenly. тАЬI understand that the shaylтАЩm are
avoiding all off-world contact now.тАЭ
тАЬYes. Very much yes. Yet there is always a way. Are you familiar with the shaylтАЩm custom of death
debt?тАЭ asked Meriel, her voice as neutral as RhaneтАЩs.
Rhane frowned, trying to remember, but all that he could think of was ShiyaтАЩs body lit by flames and
then CezineтАЩs face, light and shadow and sorrow.
тАЬNo,тАЭ said Rhane. тАЬI donтАЩt remember it.тАЭ
тАЬIf you leave a child in the care of a shaylтАЩm tribesman, and the child dies, the tribesman owes you a
death debt. Not necessarily money,тАЭ said Meriel, accurately assessing RhaneтАЩs distaste. тАЬA service.
Anything you chose. As your half brother died while in the care ofтАФтАЭ
тАЬI can find my way to Mure Lake without a guide,тАЭ interrupted Rhane coldly. тАЬBesides, eight years
ago Shiya was no more than a child herself. She was not responsible for my brotherтАЩs death.тАЭ
тАЬBy Menx standards,тАЭ said Meriel, тАЬShiya was an adult.тАЭ
Rhane knew he could hardly argue that point. тАЬI can find Mure Lake without a guide,тАЭ he repeated.
тАЬItтАЩs the planet IтАЩm having trouble getting to, remember?тАЭ
Meriel ignored RhaneтАЩs abrupt manner. She turned the glass in her hands, staring at the light thrown
off by carved crystal facets. The glass coruscated, turning faster and faster while her hands faded into
shadow and her voice spoke softly.
тАЬMure Lake is only the beginning. Cezine died in a highland region known as the Jaws of Menx. The
exact location is called the Fountains of Madness.тАЭ
Rhane felt uneasiness crawl like a many-legged insect over his spine. The brilliant crystal turning, the
womanтАЩs alien voice, the room in shadow.
тАЬImpossible,тАЭ he whispered.
тАЬThe Fountains are just beyond a highland city called Shaylmir,тАЭ continued Meriel in her soft,
relentless voice.
тАЬLies. Why are you lying to me? No alien ever has gone beyond First Pass, much less over the Ghost
Pass into the Jaws of Menx. As for that cityтАФтАШShaylmirтАЩ means тАШHome of the Gods.тАЩ ItтАЩs a pious legend
with no more reality than the mythical Menx reskans.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩre very sure,тАЭ said Meriel. тАЬHave you been to the Jaws of Menx?тАЭ
тАЬHave you?тАЭ retorted Rhane.
 тАЬNo. But IтАЩm certain something is there. Did you know that a Concord medical team went to Menx