"James McCann - Kith 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCann James)

how much he appreciated her fare.
Normally after dinner the men returned to their work in the fields, regardless of how
exhausted summerтАЩs dry heat had left them. But on this particular day, for some odd
reason, his father had sat back and placed his hands behind his head as though to relax
awhile. His mother had also taken a moment to rest, and had even stopped his sisters
from doing their chores.
At first Rafgard had thought this was wonderful. A break from his chores meant time
for leisure. He could go fishing, and lie back in the few remaining hours of sunlight. It
had been such a long time that he wondered if heтАЩd have any bait ... then heтАЩd realised his
parents werenтАЩt relaxing, they were staring. They were staring at him.
His father had leaned over the creaky wooden table, and started to speak. But it
wasnтАЩt the words his son had found intriguing but the pride in his eyes. Eyes that
retracted from a strong ray of sun spilling into their home. A memory that, when heтАЩd
seen the dragonтАЩs pupils unmoved by the sun, had saved his life.
Leaving behind his recollection, Rafgard reached into the creatureтАЩs mouth, cringed
at the hot blood, and placed a foot against the jagged tooth for leverage. He yanked but
the sword did not move.
He hadnтАЩt even heard the Broadsword Fellows rush into the cave.
тАЬFor sooth! He killed the beast!тАЭ one boy yelled.
тАЬYou only had to steal an item of treasure. WhatтАЩd you go and wake it fer?тАЭ
Rafgard craned his head to see Cador, Drust, and Tor all staring at him. He had his
hand on his sword inside the dragonтАЩs mouth, and because blood covered him it appeared
that he had killed the mighty beast. He started to say differently, but stopped. How better
to win a PrincessтАЩ heart than to slay the mightiest beast that ever lived! And who could
outdo someone whoтАЩd killed a dragon? So long as no one could prove differently.тАж
тАЬI decided this beast was too dangerous, and rather than steal an item of treasure I
have claimed it all as my own.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩre one mad man, Rafgard,тАЭ Drust said, тАЬbut I wonder how brave you really
are.тАЭ
Rafgard pulled out his sword and looked at each Broadsword Fellow suspiciously.
Silence fell over the cavern, over each of the boys.тАж

тАЬHey, Mister Whittaker. A pregnant pause is cool, but youтАЩve been silent for quite
some time.тАЭ Trent snapped his fingers, but the old man was lost again, caught in some
weird trance as he stared at the flames of the flickering fire. He blinked and smiled.
тАЬYouthful Trent. Perhaps this would be a good place to stop. We can continue
tomorrow, should you wish.тАЭ
тАЬYeah, okay ... IтАЩll be by ... aw, naw, canтАЩt. I work tomorrow. How тАШbout Saturday?тАЭ
тАЬSaturday? You spend too much time on RafgardтАЩs life and not enough on your own.тАЭ
тАЬYou talkinтАЩ from experience?тАЭ
WhittakerтАЩs vision fell to the floor. His jaw opened, but only a sigh came out.
 Kith тАУ 7 тАУ
Trent said, тАЬIтАЩm sorry. I shouldnтАЩt have said that.тАЭ
тАЬItтАЩs all right. We will continue the story тАж Saturday.тАЭ
тАЬOkay, what time?тАЭ
As usual, the old manтАЩs eyes grew glassy as he looked into the fire. тАЬAfter dusk,
Trent. Anytime after dusk.тАЭ
 Kith тАУ 8 тАУ