"L. E. Modesitt - Timedivers -Timegods - 03 - Timegods' World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"I know."

"There can be no more witches in Eastron. Not now. Not with the empress of Westron's
demands, and the weaknesses in the Duchy."

"But the Bardwalls still stand. . . ."

"And they will, and you may always return to look upon them. You must make a place
among the people of Westron and learn their technologies. Our time has gone and will not
come again for centuries. Not until they have stripped the last metals from the ground. Not
until they have been hurled from the skies."

"Mother?"

"Yes."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Daughter, I know that Eastron is dying, and all the villagers and all the gentry will blame it
on the witches. Because of the duke our faces are too well known. So I will face the
empress with him, come what may, and you will survive."

"Mother!"
There is no answer, for the older witch has vanished.

The younger woman looked around the retreat, then continued placing her few things in
the pack, which will be all that she can carry on her instant yet long journey.



IT SEEMS SO simple. It is not. It could have begun here as well:


--------


"WITCH! WITCH!"

Thud! Crack!

One rock, then another, struck the whitewashed wall.

Their target, a stocky boy-child with strawberry blond hair, a dazed expression, and
shoulders already overbroad, looked down from the low wall where he balanced. Looked
down at the whitewashed surface where the rocks had struck near his feet, then back at
the gathered handful of women, crippled veterans, and the priest.

". . . like his mother . . ."

". . . dead . . . thank Verlyt . . . !"