"Rachel Pollack - Immortal Snake" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pollack Rachel)

floated away. When they opened their eyes again, thinking that a few
moments had passed, they discovered it was morning. All the food was
cold, and all the wine was dull. It didnтАЩt matter. Each one got up and silently
left the room, leaving Tribute of Angels on his cushion at the feet of the
Snake, his legs underneath him, his back straight, his head slightly bowed,
his face serene. For a long time Immortal Snake looked at him, then the
Snake too got up and walked alone to his bed.

The next evening the ruler once more summoned his companion to
the Hall of Precious Happiness. тАЬAh, but tonight,тАЭ he said, and waved a
finger, тАЬyou will tell us your tale after we have eaten. Otherwise, all our food
will rot and we will all become as skinny as slave children taken into the
Army of Heaven.тАЭ He laughed at his own joke and waved his companion to
a red cushion at his feet.

тАЬAs you wish, Great Lord.тАЭ

They ate, but quickly, and sipped their wine without the proper
intervals to allow the alcohol to flow lazily through their blood. It made no
difference. If they were drunk, or dyspeptic, or agitated, or sleepy, that all
changed the moment Tribute of Angels began to speak.

He told of the Lover of Wheat, an ancient Goddess who ruled over all
the plants and animals that feed the world. The Goddess had a daughter
who every morning played among the flowers that sprang up at her
approach. One morning the girl saw a shadow on a rock wall, and she found
that she could not help but stare at it, until a breeze stirred the flowers, and
the movement of color distracted her. The next morning there was the
shadow again, and this time it took the form of a man, handsome and tall.
Lover of WheatтАЩs daughter stared at him a long time, her face dry and hot,
her fingers trembling.

The morning after that she ran outside without eating. Frightened,
Lover of Wheat followed her, but the daughter was swift, and by the time
the mother reached the field the daughter had taken the hand of Shadow
and walked into a darkness in the rocks.
 The girl found herself on a stone stairway that went deep into the
Earth. When they reached the bottom, Shadow put his arm around her, and
stroked her face with long fingers, and touched her shoulders, and her
back, and finally her lips. She trembled, and closed her eyes, and let him
hold her, and kiss her, and when he whispered, тАЬBe my bride,тАЭ she
whispered back, тАЬYes. I am your bride.тАЭ

While she stood there, and gave herself, soft voices gathered all
around them. When she opened her eyes she discovered she was in the
Land of the Dead. Great crowds of shadow-people surrounded her.
тАЬShining in Darkness!тАЭ they shouted, and when she looked at her arms she
discovered it was true, light pulsed from her with every breath. She turned
to Death, her dark husband, and turned back to look at the hungry faces
who already longed for the joy only she could bring them. That was when