"Roberts, John Maddox - Cingulum 03 - The Sword, The Jewel and the Mirror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberts John Maddox)

"Best not sleep too close to them, either," Kiley said helpfully. "Sometimes they roll over in their sleep and squash people."
"I can't imagine sleeping in the open in this place," Haakon told him. They went out of the fenced area and joined their escort, which turned out to be the woman and the four monks, with the addition of the abbot, Soun.
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"This trip will go a lot easier," Haakon said, "if we have a name to call you by."
"My name is Sarai," she said.
"Now we're making progress," Haakon said. "Are we really supposed to ride these beasts?"
"That is why we brought them," she said. "You mount by stepping on top of its head and climbing up its back to your saddle."
Haakon surveyed the head in question doubtfully. The blunt face was divided by a mouth that ran its entire width. The mouth was slightly open, revealing a veritable pavement of small, flat teeth. The creature stared back with an amazing absence of intelligence. This thing was definitely designed for durability rather than brain power.
Cautiously, he stepped up onto the head. It held steady enough for him to walk up to the short neck and onto the carapace. The saddle was a padded seat with a folding roof stored behind it. When he sat, his legs stretched before him almost to its neck.
"How do I steer it?" he asked.
"You don't," she answered. "One of us will be in the lead at all times. The others will follow. Guidance is rather complicated, so don't even try it. A tug on that strap behind you will unfold your shelter."
"What do we do about the bugs?" Jemal asked. "I'm pretty quick with a blade, but I don't think I'm that quick."
"You needn't worry," she said. "They seldom attack recent arrivals. After you've lived on Chamukan food
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and water for a year or so, they start to notice you. They seem to home on body chemistry."
Sarai noticed Numa for the first time. "What kind of person are you?"
"The best kind," he answered. "A Felid." Two bounds put him in the saddle, his foot scarcely touching the top of his mount's head. The monks spoke excitedly when they realized that Numa, beneath his armor, was not a standard human.
"They think you look like one of the old guardian spirits," she explained. "They have statues of them in the temples. Don't be offended. They say it's a sign that the gods favor their mission."
"Gods?" Haakon asked, settling himself gingerly onto his saddle pad. "I thought this outfit was Buddhist."
"They are," she said, "but they've also incorporated Shinto into their sect. Buddha is the supreme teacher, but the smaller gods also exist and have their own realms, along with spirits of other sorts. They maintain that it doesn't conflict with the teachings of the Buddha."
"Nor should it," Soun said. "Where in the sutras does it say thatЧ"
"We have a long trip ahead of us, folks," Haakon said. "I suggest we get going."
Soun looked incensed, but Soong said soothingly, "My Lord Abbot, while we are on this journey, would you be so kind as to impart to me some-of the teachings of your sect? In all my wanderings I have come to realize that it is impossible to exhaust the possibilities of the words of the Lord Buddha."
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Soun regarded him with a certain respect. "You are "a pilgrim?"
"I strive to regulate my life properly, and any new facet of the Enlightened One's teaching can only help me to that end."
"We shall talk, then," Soun said. "I shall keep your beast and mine in mind-yoke."
Haakon wasn't sure what that last reference meant, but there was no question that Soong was a first-rate diplomat. When he thought about it, it seemed that Soong and Mirabeile were about the only members of his crew who could be depended on .to show a few sociaJ graces. An assassin and a thief. He was sure there Was a moral to be found in there somewhere, but he wasn't sure what it might be. Eventually, everybody was mounted and more or less ready to go.
"We'll travel in double file," Sarai announced. "That gives each of us only one side to keep full lookout on. First will go two of the monks, then Abbot Soun and Soong, then Captain Haakon and me. Jemal and the Felid, Mr.Ч"
"Numa. We only use one name."
"Numa, then. Since you're both new arrivals, there's little chance you'll be attacked right away by the native life forms. Last of all, the other two monks. Any questions?"
"One," Haakon said. "We may be safe from the native life forms, but what about the local human population?"
Soun looked at the woman and grunted. It was an I-told-you-so sound.
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"You needn't concern yourself about that," Sarai insisted. "There are several squabbling sects here, but they won't endanger you. If there should be a fight, it will be me, Soun, and the other monks who will take the brunt of it."
Haakon looked idly at the backs of his hands. "I've been wounded many times in combat. Sometimes it was by the enemy. Just about as often, though, it was an accidental wound from my own side. Happens all the time in war. I figure a neutral in a crossfire is about twice as likely to get hit as someone on either of the warring sides."
"Our warriors will keep you safe," Soun barked. "If there is fighting, it will be close, with blades and spears. Since the BT's came, none of us goes armed with beam weapons, or with firearms or bows. They are most apprehensive of missile weapons, as well they might be. Our people were the finest marksmen and archers they had ever encountered. Osne is seldom injured by an ill-aimed sword."
"I believe you," Haakon said. "I just like to know what I'm getting into."
"Are you satisfied?" asked Sarai impatiently. "Shall we go now?"
Haakon regarded her blandly. "Let's go."
The turkles lurched into stately progress. For such enormous animals, they made remarkably little noise. It took Haakon a while to realize what was strangest about them. Then he noticed that he could not hear their breathing. He had never encountered a beast so large that did not breathe like an ancient steam engine.
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"Animal transport isn't our favorite means of travel," Haakon remarked.
"Would you rather walk?" Sarai demanded.
"Not at all, but wouldn't some kind of powered vehicle be more practical, not to mention faster?"