"Jerry Pournelle - 02 - Clan and Crown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

massive porticos, and made of heavy wood studded with large iron knobs. The
small mounted party was barely through when the gates crashed shut, and they
heard the locking bar, a log nearly as big around as a telephone pole, fall into
place. Ben Murphy rode on in silence for a mo-ment, then turned to his
companion. тАЬGuess itтАЩs too late for second thoughts now,тАЭ he said in English.
In contrast to Murphy, the other man was mounted on a centaur. It didnтАЩt look
much like the classical centaurs; the upper torso was more apelike than hu-man,
while the body itself resembled a moose as much as it did a horse. Its rider looked
around through half-closed eyes. тАЬI reckon we could get out of here,тАЭ he said. He
reached forward to stroke the centaurтАЩs back. тАЬDobbin and meтАЩve been through a
bit on this stupid planet. DonтАЩt reckon weтАЩd let these city types stop us.тАЭ
тАЬNaw,тАЭ Murphy said. тАЬWeтАЩd never make it.тАЭ
тАЬHell we couldnтАЩt.тАЭ Lafe Reznick patted the H&K battle rifle slung over his
shoulder. тАЬSay the word, Ben, and IтАЩll hold тАШem off while you break out the one-
oh-six.тАЭ
Murphy snorted. тАЬAnd whatтАЩll you bet they donтАЩt have crosshairs on us right

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now?тАЭ He pointed up to the high tower of the castle that dominated the town. A
skyrocket rose from the towerтАЩs base as he pointed.
тАЬYou really think the captain would do that?тАЭ Reznick demanded.
Murphy shrugged. тАЬMaybe not. But what about Mason? Or Elliot?тАЭ
тАЬYeah. I forgot about Sergeant Major Elliot,тАЭ Rez-nick said. тАЬGuess they all went
over when Captain Galloway shot Colonel Parsons. And ElliotтАЩs just the man to
see we donтАЩt get away.тАЭ He squinted up toward the castle. тАЬUp there-or hell,
maybe right over in one of those doorways with a submachine gun.тАЭ
тАЬHe wouldnтАЩt even need that,тАЭ Murphy said. тАЬWith those goddam Tamaerthan
archers of his, Christ, they could have us stuck over with gullfeathers тАШfore you
could unsling that H&K.тАЭ
тАЬYou do think of the cheerfullest things.тАЭ
тАЬYou say what?тАЭ One of the riders drew level with Murphy and threw back her
hood. She was quite pretty, and much younger than the two soldiers. тАЬYou have
afraid?тАЭ she asked.
тАЬNaw, IтАЩm not afraid,тАЭ Reznick said. тАЬCourse not, Honey. I wouldnтАЩt bring you
here if I was afraid.тАЭ
тАЬI hear afraid,тАЭ she said. тАЬThe mounts know we afraid.тАЭ
тАЬJust nervous in the service,тАЭ Murphy said. тАЬTo your place, if you please, Lady.
The girl started to say something, but checked herself. She halted to let Murphy
and Reznick draw ahead and the three other women catch up to her. Then she
began to chatter to them, speaking the native language far too swiftly for Murphy
to understand her words.
Murphy and Reznick rode on in silence until they reached the castle gates, which
seemed at least as mas-sive as the town portals had been. As they approached, the
gates swung open.
тАЬExpectinтАЩ us,тАЭ Murphy said. тАЬWell, here we go.тАЭ He stood in his stirrups and
turned to the group behind him. тАЬNo weapons,тАЭ he said, grinning to himself. I
donтАЩt speak this local stuff too bad, he thought. BetterтАЩn Honeypie speaks English.