"Masquerade Cycle - 03 - Prophecy" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGough Scott)

incursions. The lack of success against raiders was a source
of embarrassment to the army and the League leaders.
Some civilians said that the army was scared to attack
figures from childhood nightmares. The news that a target
might still be within striking distance of the Kipamu
barrack provoked an immediate response. A force of war
machines and mounted infantry was dispatched. The
mechanical forces were steel ants, the weakest and most
common element in the Kipamu arsenal. However, the
high speed of the waist-high metal insectoids made them
the quickest force the army could field. Besides, the
commanders said the low quality of their foes presented no
real challenge to the League, just Keldon trash raiding
small farms.

Haddad wondered if bravado ruled the army now.
Seeking to crush their own fears, the combat troops had
raced out into the field. The need for speed left the support
troops exposed and without escort as they followed,
chivvying their plodding oxen into the cold darkness. The
support troopers carried supplies and maintenance
equipment, but as noncombat troops they had none of the
rashness burning in the commanders who raced to fight.
The veterans looked for machines or cavalry for protection,
but they found none. Sergeant Atul had said if he had a
choice between shivering naked with a proper column of
security or maintaining the current situation, he would risk
frostbite.

"Natal!" Atul called, "come here."

Haddad followed his friend forward as the sergeant sent
two veterans to the rear of the column. Haddad noticed

3



Prophecy

each of them looked more calm and ready than he felt.
Perhaps it was only his youth making him so nervous.
Things couldn't be as bad as he feared. Haddad slung his
launcher off his shoulder where he usually carried it. The
sling was too short to quickly shrug off, and whenever he
was nervous he carried it ready to fire.

The sergeant looked at the friends but did not comment
on Haddad trailing along. There were several other men
gathered around, looking like they were awaiting orders.