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

down again.
Yama said, "Ananda, come out when I call your name.
Derev, you set up a diversion." And before he could think
better of it he stepped out onto the road and shouted the
twins' names.
Lob turned. He held the staff in both hands, as if about to
break it. Lud sat on the anchorite's back, grinning as he
absorbed the man's blows to his flanks.
Yama said, "What is this, Lob? Are you and your brother
footpads now?"
"Just a bit of fun, little fish, " Lob said. He whirled the
staff above his head. It whistled in the dark air.
:'We saw him first, " Lud added.
'I think you should leave him alone."
:'Maybe we'll have you instead, little fish."
'We'll have him all right, " Lud said. "That's why we're
here." He cuffed the anchorite. "This culler got in the way
of what we set out to do, remember? Grab him, brother, and
then we can finish this bit of fun."
"You will have to deal with me", and with Ananda, too, "
Yama said. He did not look around, but by the shift in Lob's
gaze he knew that Ananda had stepped out onto the road




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behind him.
'The priest's runt, eh?" Ub laughed, and farted tremendously.
'Gaw, " his brother said, giggling so hard his triple chins
quivered. He waved a hand in front of his face. "What a
stink."
"Bless me your holiness, " Lob said, leering at Ananda,
and farted again.
:'Even odds, " Yama said, disgusted.
'Stay there, little fish, " Lob said. "We'll deal with you
when we've finished here."
"You wetbrain, " Lud said, "we deal with him first.
Remember?"
Yama flung his flimsy trident then, but it bounced uselessly
off Lob's hide. Lob yawned, showing his stout, sharp tusks,
and swept the staff at Yama's head. Yama ducked, then
jumped back from the reverse stroke. The staff's metal tip
cut the air a finger's width from his belly. Lob came on,
stepping heavily and deliberately and sweeping the staff back
and forth, but Yama easily dodged his clumsily aimed blows.
"Fight fair, " Lob said, stopping at last. He was panting
heavily. "Stand and fight fair."