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

stood, trembling, staring at me. But they did not obey. I leaped from
the stallion and ran to them. I raised my hand. The ring of Khalk'ru
flittered. They threw themselves on the ground before me--but they did
not open the gates.

I saw upon the wall goatskins full of water. I snatched one of these
and a sack of grain. Upon the floor was a huge slab of stone. I lifted
it as though it had been a pebble, and hurled it at the gates where the
two halves met. They burst asunder. I threw the skin of water and sack
of grain over the high saddle, and rode through the broken gates.

The great horse skimmed through the ravine like a swallow. And now we
were over the crumbling bridge and thundering down the ancient road.

We came to the end of the far ravine. I knew it by the fall of rock. I
looked back. There was no sign of pursuit But I could hear the faint
throb of the drums.

It was now well past mid-afternoon. We picked our way through the
ravine and came out at the edge of the sandstone range. It was cruel to
force the stallion, but I could not afford to spare him. By nightfall
we had readied semi-arid country. The stallion was reeking with sweat,
and tired. Never once had he slackened or turned surly. He had a great
heart, that horse. I made up my mind that he should rest, come what
might.

I found a sheltered place behind some high boulders. Suddenly I
realized that I was still wearing the yellow ceremonial smock. I tore
it off with sick loathing. I rubbed the horse down with it. I watered
him and gave him some of the grain. I realized, too, that I was
ravenously hungry and had eaten nothing since morning. I chewed some of
the grain and washed it down with the tepid water. As yet, there were
no signs of pursuit, and the drums were silent. I wondered uneasily
whether the Uighurs knew of a shorter road and were outflanking me. I
threw the smock over the stallion and stretched myself on the ground. I
did not intend to sleep. But I did go to sleep.

I awakened abruptly. Dawn was breaking. Looking down upon me were the
old priest and the cold-eyed Uighur captain. My hiding place was ringed
with spearsmen. The old priest spoke, gently.



file:///F|/rah/A.Merrit/Merritt%20-%20Dwellers%20in%20the%20Mirage.txt (22 of 155) [1/15/03 4:51:35 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/A.Merrit/Merritt%20-%20Dwellers%20in%20the%20Mirage.txt

"We mean you no harm, Dwayanu. If it is your will to leave us, we
cannot stay you. He whose call Khalk'ru has answered has nothing to
fear from us. His will is our will."