"New Text Document" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman John - Gor 04 - Nomads of Gor)

Chapter 21 KAMCHAK ENTERS TURIA .. 226

Chapter 22 KAMCHAKТS FEAST . 241

Chapter 23 THE BATTLE AT THE WAGON .. 249

Chapter 24 THE WAGON OF A COMMANDER .. 260

Chapter 25 I AM SERVED WINE . 271

Chapter 26 THE EGG OF PRIEST-KINGS . 307

Chapter 27 THE SPARING OF THE HOME STONE OF TURIA .. 333

Chapter 28 ELIZABETH AND I DEPART FROM THE WAGON PEOPLES . 344









Chapter 1
THE PLAINS OF TURIA


"Run!" cried the woman. "Flee for your life!"

I saw her eyes wild with fear for a moment above the rep-cloth veil and she had sped past me.

She was peasant, barefoot, her garment little more than coarse sacking. She had been carrying a wicker basket containing vulos, domesticated pigeons raised for eggs and meat.

Her man, carrying a mattock, was not far behind. Over his left shoulder hung a bulging sack filled with what must have been the paraphernalia of his hut.

He circled me, widely. "Beware," he said, "I carry a Home Stone."

I stood back and made no move to draw my weapon. Though I was of the caste of warriors and he of peasants, and I armed and he carrying naught but a crude tool, I would not dispute his passage. One does not lightly dispute the passage of one who carries his Home Stone.

Seeing that I meant him no harm, he paused and lifted an arm, like a stick in a torn sleeve, and pointed backward. "TheyТre coming," he said. "Run, you fool! Run for the gates of Turia!"

Turia the high-walled, the nine-gated, was the Gorean city lying in the midst of the huge prairies claimed by the Wagon Peoples.

Never had it fallen.

Awkwardly, carrying his sack, the peasant turned and stumbled on, casting occasional terrified glances over his shoulder.

I watched him and his woman disappear over the brown wintry grass.