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

Grass lay cut almost in two, his entrails oozing from his body, half-turned over, and as she watched, shaking, he writhed once, flicked his tongue out once, and in. Snake made some sound, too low in her throat to be a cry. She hoped his motions were only reflex, but she picked him up as gently as she could. She leaned down and touched her lips to the smooth green scales behind his head. She bit him quickly, sharply, at the base of his skull. His blood flowed cool and salty in her mouth. If he was not already dead, she had killed him instantly.

She looked at the parents, and at Arevin; they were all pale, but she had no sympathy for their fear, and cared nothing for shared grief. УSuch a small creature,Ф she said. УSuch a small creature, who could only give pleasure and dreams.Ф She watched them for a moment more, then turned toward the tent again.

УWaitЧФ She heard the eldest partner move up close behind her. He touched her shoulder; she shrugged away his hand. УWe will give you anything you want,Ф he said, Уbut leave the child alone.Ф

She spun on him in a fury. УShould I kill Stavin for your stupidity?Ф He seemed about to try to hold her back. She jammed her shoulder hard into his stomach, and flung herself past the tent flap. Inside, she kicked over the satchel. Abruptly awakened, and angry, Sand crawled out and coiled himself. When someone tried to enter, Sand hissed and rattled with a violence Snake had never heard him use before. She did not even bother to look behind her. She ducked her head and wiped her tears on her sleeve before Stavin could see them. She knelt beside him.

УWhatТs the matter?Ф He could not help but hear the voices outside the tent, and the running.

УNothing, Stavin,Ф Snake said. УDid you know we came across the desert?Ф

УNo,Ф he said with wonder.

УIt was very hot, and none of us had anything to eat. Grass is hunting now. He was very hungry. Will you forgive him and let me begin? IТll be here all the time.Ф

He seemed so tired; he was disappointed, but he had no strength for arguing. УAll right.Ф His voice rustled like sand slipping through the fingers.

Snake lifted Mist from her shoulders, and pulled the blanket from StavinТs small body. The tumor pressed up beneath his rib cage, distorting his form, squeezing his vital organs, sucking nourishment from him for its own growth, poisoning him with its wastes. Holding MistТs head, Snake let her flow across him, touching and tasting him. She had to restrain the cobra to keep her from striking; the excitement had agitated her. When Sand used his rattle, the vibrations made her flinch. Snake stroked her, soothing her; trained and bred-in responses began to return, overcoming the natural instincts. Mist paused when her tongue flicked the skin above the tumor, and Snake released her.

The cobra reared and struck, biting as cobras bite, sinking her fangs their short length once, releasing, instantly biting again for a better purchase, holding on, chewing at her prey. Stavin cried out, but he did not move against SnakeТs restraining hands.

Mist expended the contents of her venom sacs into the child, and released him. She reared up, peered around, folded her hood, and slid across the floor in a perfectly straight line toward her dark, close compartment.

УItТs done, Stavin.Ф

УWill I die now?Ф

УNo,Ф Snake said. УNot now. Not for many years, I hope.Ф She took a vial of powder from her belt pouch. УOpen your mouth.Ф He complied, and she sprinkled the powder across his tongue. УThat will help the ache.Ф She spread a pad of cloth across the series of shallow puncture wounds without wiping off the blood.

She turned from him.

УSnake? Are you going away?Ф

УI wonТt leave without saying good-bye. I promise.Ф

The child lay back, closed his eyes, and let the drug take him.

Sand coiled quietly on the dark felt. Snake patted the floor to call him. He moved toward her, and suffered himself to be replaced in the satchel. Snake closed it, and lifted it, and it still felt empty. She heard noises outside the tent. StavinТs parents and the people who had come to help them pulled open the tent flap and peered inside, thrusting sticks in even before they looked.

Snake set down her leather case. УItТs done.Ф

They entered. Arevin was with them too; only he was empty-handed. УSnakeЧФ He spoke through grief, pity, confusion, and Snake could not tell what he believed. He looked back. StavinТs mother was just behind him. He took her by the shoulder. УHe would have died without her. Whatever happens now, he would have died.Ф

She shook his hand away. УHe might have lived. It might have gone away. WeЧФ She could speak no more for hiding tears.

Snake felt the people moving, surrounding her. Arevin took one step toward her and stopped, and she could see he wanted her to defend herself. УCan any of you cry?Ф she said. УCan any of you cry for me and my despair, or for them and their guilt, or for small things and their pain?Ф She felt tears slip down her cheeks.

They did not understand her; they were offended by her crying. They stood back, still afraid of her, but gathering themselves. She no longer needed the pose of calmness she had used to deceive the child. УAh, you fools.Ф Her voice sounded brittle. УStavinЧФ