"Dreamsnake" - читать интересную книгу автора (McIntyre Vonda N)

Snake sought the courage that had seeped slowly away since Grass was killed. It seem irretrievable. She knew how Jesse was hurt; all that remained was to find out how badly. But she did not say anything. Resting one forearm on her knee, head down, Snake felt JesseТs forehead. The tall woman was sweating coldly, still in shock.

If she has internal injuries, Snake thought, if she is dyingЕ

Jesse turned her head away, moaning softly in her sleep.

She needs whatever help you can give her, Snake thought angrily. And the longer you swim in self-pity, the more likely you are to hurt her instead.

She felt as if two completely different people, neither of them herself, were holding a dialogue in her mind. She watched and waited and was vaguely grateful when the duty-bound self won the argument over the part of her that was afraid.

УI need help to turn her over,Ф she said.

Merideth at JesseТs shoulders and Alex at her hips, they eased her up and held her on her side, following SnakeТs instructions to keep from twisting her spine. A black bruise spread across the small of her back, radiating both ways from the vertebrae. Where the color was darkest, the bone was crushed.

The force of the fall had almost sheared the spineТs smooth column. Snake could feel shattered chips of bone that had been pushed out into muscle.

УLet her down,Ф Snake said, with deep, dull regret. They obeyed and waited in silence, watching her. She sat on her heels.

If Jesse dies, she thought, she will not feel much pain. If she dies, or if she lives, Grass could not have helped her.

УHealerЕ?Ф AlexЧhe could hardly be twenty, too young to be burdened with grief, even in this harsh land. Merideth seemed ageless. Deep-tanned, dark-eyed, old, young, understanding, bitter. Snake looked at Merideth, glanced at Alex, spoke more to the older partner. УHer spine is broken.Ф

Merideth sat back, shoulders slumped, stunned.

УBut sheТs alive!Ф Alex cried. УIf sheТs alive, howЧФ

УIs there any chance youТre wrong?Ф Merideth asked. УCan you do anything?Ф

УI wish I could. Merideth, Alex, sheТs lucky to be alive. ThereТs no chance the nerves arenТt cut. The bone isnТt just broken, itТs crushed and twisted. I wish I could say something else, that maybe the bones would heal, maybe the nerves were whole, but IТd be lying to you.Ф

УSheТs crippled.Ф

УYes,Ф Snake said.

УNo!Ф Alex grabbed her arm. УNot JesseЧI wonТtЧФ

УHush, Alex,Ф Merideth whispered.

УIТm sorry,Ф Snake said. УI could have hidden this from you, but not for very long.Ф

Merideth brushed a lock of brick-red hair from JesseТs forehead. УNo, itТs better to know all this at onceЕ to learn to live with it.Ф

УJesse wonТt thank us for this kind of life.Ф

УBe quiet, Alex! Would you rather the fall had killed her?Ф

УNo!Ф Looking down at the tent floor, he said softly, УBut she might. And you know it.Ф

Merideth stared at Jesse, saying nothing at first. УYouТre right.Ф Snake could see MeridethТs left hand, clenched in a fist, shaking. УAlex, would you see to my mare? We used her badly.Ф