"Elizabeth Moon - Paksenarrion 1 - The Sheepfarmer's Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

sharp end, to be poked at the enemy. No fancy strokes тАФ
simple. Effective. Surely it was easier than a sword; if
nothing else you could hang onto the thing with both
hands.

"We don't use polearms often," said Stammel. "We're a
fast-moving, flexible infantry, and swords are better for
that. But we do train with 'em and we use them
sometimes. So. First you'll learn to carry something that
long without getting all tangled up in it. Remember those
reeds we gathered last week you were so curious about?
Well, they've been drying in the storelofts, and you'll each
take one."
Soon they were back in formation, each with a twelve-
foot reed in hand. Stammel had shown them how to hold
the mock spears upright; now he gave the command to
move forward. Five of the reeds tipped backwards. The
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Elizabeth Moon - The Deed of Paksenarrion [vol 1] Sheepfarmer's Daughter


butt on one tripped the recruit in front of the careless
carrier. When he stumbled, his reed swung out of control
and hit the file leader on the head.
"Pick 'em upтАФdon't stop, come on! You've got to hold
them firmlyтАФdon't let 'em waver. Keep in formation,
there. Stay in step or you'll trip each other."
The reeds dipped and wavered as if in a windstorm as
Stammel led the unit to the far side of the parade grounds.
By the time he called a halt, most faces were red.
"Now you see what I meant. The only easy thing about
spear work is how easy it is to mess up the whole
formation. If you ever see one of the heavy polearm
companies, like Count Vladi's, you'll see how it should be
done. Now тАФ you've got to learn how to shift those
things about. Together, or you'll all be tangled together.
So just holding them upright, we'll practice turning in
place." He called for a right face. Two recruits let their
reeds lag behind the turn, and the tips bumped
neighboring reeds. "No! Hold them absolutely steady
when you turn. Keep 'em straight. Try it again."
After a dizzying few minutes of facing left, right, and
about, the unit could turn in place without any wavering
of the reeds. Stammel wiped his face and glanced at the
corporals. They were trying not to grin. Far across the
parade grounds, he could see another unit practicing. It
looked worse than his, he thought.
"Next step is the slope," he said. "Don't move anything

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