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

УI donТt understand,Ф Arevin said, Уhow it is that youТre unhurt. My younger sister was bitten by a sand viper.Ф He could not speak as uncaringly as he might have wished. УWe could do nothing to save herЧnothing we have would even lessen her pain.Ф

Snake gave him his flask and rubbed salve from a vial in her belt pouch across the closing punctures. УItТs a part of our preparation,Ф she said. УWe work with many kinds of serpents, so we must be immune to as many as possible.Ф She shrugged. УThe process is tedious and somewhat painful.Ф She clenched her fist; the film held, and she was steady. She leaned toward Arevin and touched his abraded cheek again. УYesЕФ She spread a thin layer of the salve across it. УThat will help it heal.Ф

УIf you cannot sleep,Ф Arevin said, Уcan you at least rest?Ф

УYes,Ф she said. УFor a little while.Ф

Snake sat next to Arevin, leaning against him, and they watched the sun turn the clouds to gold and flame and amber. The simple physical contact with another human being gave Snake pleasure, though she found it unsatisfying. Another time, another place, she might do something more, but not here, not now.

When the lower edge of the sunТs bright smear rose above the horizon, Snake got up and teased Mist out of the case. She came slowly, weakly, and crawled across SnakeТs shoulders. Snake picked up the satchel, and she and Arevin walked together back to the small group of tents.



StavinТs parents waited, watching for her, just outside the entrance of their tent. They stood in a tight, defensive, silent group. For a moment Snake thought they had decided to send her away. Then, with regret and fear like hot iron in her mouth, she asked if Stavin had died. They shook their heads, and allowed her to enter.

Stavin lay as she had left him, still asleep. The adults followed her with their stares. Mist flicked out her tongue, growing nervous from the smell of fear.

УI know you would stay,Ф Snake said. УI know you would help, if you could, but there is nothing to be done by any person but me. Please go back outside.Ф

They glanced at each other, and at Arevin, and she thought for a moment that they would refuse. Snake wanted to fall into the silence and sleep. УCome, cousins,Ф Arevin said. УWe are in her hands.Ф He opened the tent flap and motioned them out. Snake thanked him with nothing more than a glance, and he might almost have smiled. She turned toward Stavin and knelt beside him. УStavinЧФ She touched his forehead; it was very hot. She noticed that her hand was less steady than before. The slight touch awakened the child. УItТs time,Ф Snake said.

He blinked, coming out of some childТs dream, seeing her, slowly recognizing her. He did not look frightened. For that Snake was glad; for some other reason she could not identify, she was uneasy.

УWill it hurt?Ф

УDoes it hurt now?Ф

He hesitated, looked away, looked back. УYes.Ф

УIt might hurt a little more. I hope not. Are you ready?Ф

УCan Grass stay?Ф

УOf course,Ф she said.

And realized what was wrong.

УIТll come back in a moment.Ф Her voice had changed so much, she had pulled it so tight, that she could not help but frighten him. She left the tent, walking slowly, calmly, restraining herself. Outside, the parents told her by their faces what they feared.

УWhere is Grass?Ф Arevin, his back to her, started at her tone. The fair-haired man made a small grieving sound, and could look at her no longer.

УWe were afraid,Ф the eldest partner said. УWe thought it would bite the child.Ф

УI thought it would. It was I. It crawled over his face. I could see its fangsЧФ The wife put her hands on her younger partnerТs shoulders, and he said no more.

УWhere is he?Ф She wanted to scream; she did not.

They brought her a small open box. Snake took it and looked inside.