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

Crack! The first rock from a villager slapped against the wall.

Crack! Thud! Crack! Thud! The past experience of the rock throwers showed as stone
after stone bounced against and around the boy.

He threw one stone back. It missed. He threw the other.

"Devil! Witch-child!"

Overhead, the dry thunder rumbled, and the dry clouds churned.

A rivulet of blood dribbled down the boy's face, no longer expressionless, but filled with
rage, even as the tears diluted his blood into pinkish streaks.

Crack! Thud! Thud!

"Gone!"

". . . damned witches . . . ! reclaimed their own . . ."

The small niche in the walls was empty, vacant but for rocks and streaks of blood upon
the walls.
". . . YOU HAVE RECLAIMED YOUR BIRTHRIGHT FROM THE WITCHES THIS DAY . .
." bellowed the amplifier.

A third of a world away, two soldiers paused by the roadside to investigate a heap of
clothing.

"Kid . . . been beaten . . ."

"Forcer!"

"Frillen, now what? Another discarded sack that has to be an aggrebel?" The heavy-set
and silver-haired forcer glared at the two as he spoke.

The trooper pointed. "Kid. Beaten. He's still breathing."

"He'll live. Put him in the rear freighter with Garchuk. He looks strong. The ConFed home
will take him. Now, let's get moving."

The two troopers shrugged. One lifted the boy and marched toward the military freight
steamer. The other followed the ConFed forcer.
 II
". . . AND NOW, IN the presence of the unknowable and the almighty, we wish you the
greatest success in your striving to bring us all another world for all people, in peace, for
our successors and their successors . . ."

The face of the grey-haired and young-faced Emperor of Westron faded from the solideo
link, to be replaced by the coat of arms of the Hrtallen.