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

file:///F|/rah/A.Merrit/Merritt%20-%20Dwellers%20in%20the%20Mirage.txt (14 of 155) [1/15/03 4:51:35 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/A.Merrit/Merritt%20-%20Dwellers%20in%20the%20Mirage.txt

behind me and placed his hands over my eyes.

"Do you remember--this?"

My mind seemed to blur, and then I saw a picture as clearly as though I
were looking at it with my open eyes. I was galloping through the oasis
straight to the great doorway in the mountain. Only now it was no
oasis. It was a city with gardens, and a river ran sparkling through
it. The ranges were not barren red sandstone, but green with trees.
There were others with me, galloping behind me--men and women like
myself, fair and strong. Now I was close to the doorway. There were
immense square stone columns flanking it . . . and now I had dismounted
from my horse . . . a great black stallion . . . I was entering . . .

I would not enter! If I entered, I would remember--Khalk'ru! I thrust
myself back . . . and out . . . I felt hands over my eyes . . . I reached
and tore them away . . . the old priest's hands. I jumped from the
chair, quivering with anger. I faced him. His face was benign, his
voice gentle.

"Soon," he said, "you will remember more!"

I did not answer, struggling to control my inexplicable rage. Of
course, the old priest had tried to hypnotize me; what I had seen was
what he had willed me to see. Not without reason had the priests of the
Uighurs gained their reputation as sorcerers. But it was not that which
had stirred this wrath that took all my will to keep from turning
berserk. No, it had been something about that name of Khalk'ru.
Something that lay behind the doorway in the mountain through which I
had almost been forced.

"Are you hungry?" The abrupt transition to the practical in the old
priest's question brought me back to normal. I laughed outright, and
told him that I was, indeed. And getting sleepy. I had feared that such
an important personage as I had apparently become would have to dine
with the high priest. I was relieved when he gave me in charge of the
Uighur captain. The Uighur followed me out like a dog, he kept his eyes
upon me like a dog upon its master, and he waited on me like a servant
while I ate. I told him I would rather sleep in a tent than in one of
the stone houses. His eyes flashed at that, and for the first time he
spoke other than in respectful monosyllables.

"Still a warrior!" he grunted approvingly. A tent was set up for me.
Before I went to sleep I peered through the flap. The Uighur leader was
squatting at the opening, and a double ring of spearsmen stood shoulder