"John Norman - Gor 16 - Guardsman of Gor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman John)

"Why?" I asked.
"That we may have someone to kill," he said.
"Are we so different from them, then?" I asked.
"I do not think so," said Callimachus. "We have much in common with them."
"What?" I asked.
"That we are men," said Callimachus.
"It is not the killing," I said, "for executions would not suffice."
"No," said Callimachus, "it is the sport, and the risk, and the killing."
"One must fight for causes," I said.
"Causes exist," said Callimachus, "that men may fight."
"I am troubled," I said.
"Extinguish the lanterns," said Callimachus to a fellow. "The pirates may still be about."
"Let us put down the longboat," I said to Callimachus. "With muffled oars we may patrol our
sector of the chain."
"Why would you do this?" he asked.
"Our vessel, even with the lanterns extinguished, cannot approach the chain as silently as a
longboat. The pirate boats, at the chain, need only draw back."
"The longboat," said Callimachus, "should be west of the chain, that it may approach the
pirate boats less suspiciously."
"Of course," I said.
"Why will you do this?" he asked.
"Why, to defend the chain," I said.
"True," smiled Callimachus.
"You have tasted blood," said Callimachus. "You want more."
"Such thoughts are too terrible to think," I said.
"The sword must drink until its thirst is satisfied," said Cal limachus. It was a Gorean
proverb.
"I will not think such thoughts," I said.
"Consult your feelings," said Callimachus. "Do you find yourself desperately committed to
this bold venture, that you may imperil your life in order to protect the chain? Are your motivations
those of discharging a dangerous and unwelcome duty, one which no man has placed upon you?"
"No," I said.
"What then?" he asked.
"I have met the enemy," I said "I am eager to meet him ague .9
"I thought so," said Callimachus. "I will put the longboat down. I shall call for volunteers."
"Who is there?" called a voice, in the darkness.
We rested the oars in the oarlocks.
"Ready," I said to the men with me, softly. We approached the chain from the west. The
longboat had been put down across the chain, the Tina abeam of it, a quarter of an Ahn ago. We had
actually passed within a few yards of pirate vessels, anchored in the river.
"Who is there?" called the voice.
"Now!" I said. Five men, behind the gunnels, suddenly rose up, bows in hand. The arrows
were discharged at almost point-blank range into the other boat, as we struck against it I heard men
scream, tools cast down. 1, and five others, swords drawn, boarded the other craft, hacking and
slashing about us. We did not speak. The cries, the screams, were those of the pirates. More than one
saved himself by leaping into the water. I thrust the body of another over a thwart, and then rolled it,
sprawling, over the gunnel into the water.
"What is going on out there?" called a voice, from one of the pirate vessels, back from the
chain.
 We struck down with an oar, driving back a man trying to reach into the boat.