"Andre Norton - Dark Piper" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

question in the space of a couple of breaths. To the younger children, she was a fountain of wisdom.
They appealed to her general knowledge before they approached any adult, for the abstraction of their
parents had become so much of a habit by now that this community was really split into two, marked by
the difference in ages. Having organized her followers, Gytha had worked upon me. And I found,
whether I willed it or no, I was leading expeditions of the Rovers sometimes more than I was trying to
further my own Ranger studies. At first I had rebelled at assuming such responsibilities, but GythaтАЩs
discipline held so well, her threat to any one of them of being left out was direful, that they did obey
orders. And it came to be a source of pride to me that I was in part a teacher for those eager to learn.
Annet was not quite one of us. She always distrusted GythaтАЩs enthusiasms and thought her sister very
prone to reckless disregard for danger. But she did not give vocal vent to any worries when I was in
command, for she knew I would not willingly lead them into trouble. Now and then she did join one of
our expeditions, her role usually being that of managing the commissary. And, I will say this in her
favorтАФshe never made any complaint when on the march. But to take the Rovers into the lava
landsтАФno, that was where I joined with Annet and was ready to hold firmly to the negative. But Ahren
leaned forward a little to question his younger daughter.
тАЬYou have a project in mind?тАЭ He at least knew how to talk to the younger generation, using the same
tone of interest with which he would have greeted a remark from one of his colleagues.
тАЬNot yet.тАЭ Gytha was always honest. She never tried to conceal facts. тАЬOnly, weтАЩve been to the
swamps, and up in the hills several times, and never there. It is to broaden horizonsтАФтАЭ She fell back on
her own general term for exploration. тАЬWe would like to see Butte Hold.тАЭ
I noted that she said nothing of a hunt for Forerunner treasure. тАЬBroaden horizons, eh? What about it,
Vere? You were in there today with a hopper. How was the terrain?тАЭ
I could not hedge, though I wanted to. He need only check the reading on the machine dial to know
the truth, though I did not know why Imbert Ahren would do such a thing. Only, I did know him well
enough to recognize a state of mind-made-up. He wanted us to go to the lava landsтАФor at least to Butte
Hold. And the reason for that took little guessingтАФhe wanted a report on Lugard.
Perhaps he thought if he could not get it readily from me, he could from Gytha.
ChildrenтАЩs eyes are sharp, and they see much.
тАЬWell enough around the Butte. I would not venture farther without a good survey.тАЭ
тАЬGythaтАЭтАФAhren turned to herтАФтАЬwould a trip to Butte Hold enlarge horizons enough for the
present?тАЭ
тАЬYes! WhenтАФtomorrow?тАЭ She demanded almost in one breath. тАЬTomorrow? WellтАФyes, tomorrow
might be very good. And, AnnetтАЭтАФhe spoke to the older girlтАФтАЬwe shall be at the port. Your mother will
accompany us. I think that the Norkots and the Wymarks will be going, too, for a general meeting. Why
donтАЩt you make this a full-day outing? Take food for aтАФdo you not sayтАФcookout?тАЭ Again I was sure
she would protest. But in face of the firmness underlying that suggestion, she did not. Gytha gave an
exclamation of delight. I thought she was already mentally listing supplies needed to uncover Forerunner
treasure. тАЬGive my greetings to the Sector-Captain,тАЭ Ahren said to me. тАЬSay that we shall be very glad
to see him at the port. We may be able to profit by his experience.тАЭ
That I doubted. AhrenтАЩs opinion of the military had been stated so many times, forcibly for the most
part, that I could not conceive of his listening to Griss Lugard on any subject without impatience and a
closed mind. Ahren was so eager to speed us on our way that he gave me permission to use the supply
hopper, which I knew to be in repair and which would hold our whole company. Once supper was done,
Gytha was off at light speed to warn her crew of the next dayтАЩs promise.
I helped Annet clear the table and saw her frown as she fed the dishes into the one kitchen mecho that
still ranтАФthe infra cleaner.
тАЬFather wants to know about Griss Lugard,тАЭ she said abruptly. тАЬHe doesnтАЩt trust him.тАЭ
тАЬHe need only go out and meet the man, and heтАЩd know the truth.тАЭ I was unhappy about the way we
were being used. тАЬLugard is certainly not planning to take over Beltane! He probably only wants to be
left aloneтАФand I donтАЩt think he will welcome us too much.тАЭ