"Paul McAuley - The Book of Confluence 01 - Child of the River" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mcauley Paul J)

The Constable spat a mouthful of water and gasped,
"You're too quick to anger, my son. That was always your
weakness."
He saw the shadow of Urthank's arm sweep through the
milky glow, and countered the thrust with his own knife. The
blades clashed and slid along each other, locking at their hilts.
Urthank growled and pressed down. He was very strong. The
Constable felt a terrific pain as his knife was twisted from
his grasp and Urthank's blade buried its point in his forearm.
He kicked backward in the water as Urthank slashed at his
face; spray flew in a wide fan.
"Old, " Urthank said. "Old and slow."
The Constable steadied himself with little circling kicks.
He could feel his hot blood pulsing into the water; Urthank
had caught a vein. There was a heaviness in his bones; the
wound on his shoulder throbbed. He knew that Urthank was
right, but he also knew that he was not prepared to die.
He said, "Come to me, son, and find out who is
strongest."
Urthank grinned, freeing his tusks from his lips. He kicked
forward, driving through the water with his knife held out
straight, trying for a killing blow. But the water slowed him
as the Constable had known it would, and the Constable
kicked sideways, always just out of reach, while Urthank
stabbed wildly, sobbing curses and uselessly spending his
strength. Father and son circled each other. In the periphery
of his vision, the Constable was aware that the white boat,
had separated from the skiff, but he could spare no thought
for it as he avoided Urthank's next onslaught.
At last Urthank stopped, paddling to keep in one place




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and
gasping heavily.
"Strength isn't everything, " the Constable observed.
"Come to me, son. I'll grant you a quick release and no
shame."
"Surrender, old man, and I'll give you an honorable burial
on land. Or I'll kill you here and let the little fishes strip
your bones."
"0 Urthank, how disappointed I am! You're no son of
mine after all!"
Urthank lunged with a sudden, desperate fury, and the Constable
punched precisely, hitting the boy's elbow where the