"Silistra - 02 - The Golden Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris Janet E)

and horned, and from whose mouth came the fire that ignited the sun in the sky.
Its jeweled eyes glitнtered in the moonlight, cruel, sentient. One of the other
men had called this one Cahndor. Such is a title of respect among the Pm-sets.
But this man was Cahndor in the wordТs formal meaningЧwar chief of a Parset
tribe, will of the sand, who held sworn death oaths from every man, woman, and
child under his protection.
I swayed, dizzy, my weight against the arm that held me upright. His grip upon
my shoulder tightened. His hand, horny against my skin, seemed exceedingly
large. Black eyes, all pupil under bushy straight brows, examined me minutely,
appraising, thoughtful. His other hand was at my belly, at my back, and my bonds
fell away.
I rubbed my wrists, crossed my legs under me, felt him withdraw his support. My
eyes were caught by his; I felt the insect in the webberТs snare, waiting,
paralyzed. I looked away, at my wrists in my lap, at the rope print upon them.
СHow is it with you, little crell?Ф he asked in Parset, slowly, distinctly. I
could not place the dialect. He shifted hack on his heels. The silvered light
played on his heavy-muscled thighs, upon his thick neck and corded arms. He was
a large-boned thick-maned man, in his prime, massive but not clumsy.
Tight-curled hair poked through the chain links about his neck, forested his
chest, thinning as it Сapproached his navel, where it fanned out on his flat
belly, to disappear beneath a metal-studded breech. Over this was buckled his
sword belt, which held the undulating Parset short sword, a small sheathed
knife, and the coiled length of braided leather.
I did not answer, but only looked up at him.
УHael, attend me!Ф he called, and that one came to join him, sitting
cross-legged beside his master. Hael was of almost identical stamp, save that
his skin seemed a trifle more black, his lips a bit fuller, his nose flatter
above his full beard.
The one called Hael brought from his belt a tiny bladder, as small as my palm,
and removed the stopper from it.
УThis will strengthen you. Open your mouth,Ф he said. I was sorry that I had
done so when the bitter, burning liquid hit my tongue It was fire inside me, and
that fire slowly spread through my whole body, calling every artery, every vein,
every capillary to my attention.
УWhat was that?Ф I choked. My vision dimmed and sharpened, my ears rang. The
drug was strong. I heard the air rustle; the two men, breathing sounded loud as
the roaring of Santha. My heart was a kapura drum keeping double time.
УSo you speak. Good. Here. Only drink three swallows,Ф the bearded one said, and
handed me a larger bladder.
This I smelled before I tasted, and it was water, cold and good. I was reluctant
to stop after the third drink, but their eyes wereТupon me, and I handed it
back. Hael took it from my grasp and corked it. He leaned over me and put his
thumbs to my eyelids, each in turn, and then to my temнples and wrists. He
turned to his cahndor and nodded. That one grinned, white teeth flashing.
УChayin,Ф said the one called Hael, putting his hand upon his cahndorТs
shoulder, Уwe should eiнther ride or raise apprei.Ф He got to his feet. УShe is
strong and resilient. When she is healed and clean, she might even be pleasing.
If you would find out, you should leave her be, let her rest.Ф And he turned and
was gone without waiting for answer or dismissal.
I thought it strange that a jiask wouldtalk to his cahndor so. To raise apprei,