"A. E. Merritt - Dwellers in the mirage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Merritt A. E)

will make these people think it better to wipe you out. I know what I'm
talking about. Chief. I ask you to do this for my sake, if not for your
own."

"But they watch the camp--" he began to object.

"They won't--after I've gone. Not for a little while at least. Everyone
of them will be streaking away with me." I spoke with complete
certainty, and Barr nodded acquiescence.

"The King returns to his Kingdom," he said. "All his loyal subjects
with him. He's in no danger--while he's with them. But--God, if I could
only go with you, Leif! The Kraken! And the ancient legend of the
South Seas told of the Great Octopus, dozing on and biding his time
till he felt like destroying the world and all its life. And three
miles up in the air the Black Octopus is cut into the cliffs of the
Andes! Norsemen--and the South Sea Islanders--and the Andeans! And the
same symbol--here!"

"Please promise?" I asked Fairchild. "My life may depend on it."

"It's like abandoning you. I don't like it!"

"Chief, this crowd could wipe you out in a minute. Go back, and get the
Mongols. The Tartars will help. They hate the Uighurs. I'll come back,
don't fear. But I'd bet everything that this whole crowd, and more,
will be at my heels. When I come, I want a wall to duck behind."

"We'll go," he said.

I went out of that tent, and over to my own. The odd-eyed Uighnr
followed me. I took my rifle and an automatic, stuffed a toothbrush and
a shaving-kit in my pocket, and turned to go.

"Is there nothing else?" There was surprise in his Question.

"If there is, I'll come back for it," I answered.

"Not after you have--remembered," he said, enigmatically.

Side by side we walked to the black stallion. I lifted myself to his
back.

The troop wheeled in behind us. Their spears a barrier between me and
the camp, we galloped south.



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