"Russell, Sean - River Into Darkness 02 - Compass Of The Soul" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

Compass of the Soul
River Into Darkness 2
By Sean Russell

Chapter One
She was reborn from the earth, emerging from a dark womb of stone into the
ancient light of a new morning. A shaft of diffuse light lanced through the
trees to caress her skin. WarmthЕ
Let it sink into my very bones, Anna thought, almost certain she would be cold
to her center for the rest of her days.
A bird lighted on a branch not a yard away, regarding her with a darkly
glittering eye. УChuff,Ф it said, the single syllable floating up like a bubble
of sound.
УShoo,Ф she responded. There was something about its billЧ blood-red and
decurving, like a scimitar.
УChuff,Ф it said again, though less surely this time, and took two steps closer,
shuffling its red legs along the branch.
УI am not food for you yet,Ф she whispered, and managed to wave a hand, driving
the bird from its perch. It settled a few yards away, staring back at her with
its head cocked, an eerily intelligent look in its glittering eye. And then it
fell to flight and sped off into the heart of the forest.
Anna closed her eyes. Sleep. She must sleep. Sleep for years, she was sure. And
thinking that she drifted into a nightmare: swept
helplessly along the course of an underground river, fighting for airЕ
struggling to live.
Something bounced off her temple, and Anna opened her eyes to find the sun
higher, providing a coverlet of delicious warmth. She had stopped shivering.
УChuffЕФ
The bird perched above her. УWhose pet are you?Ф she asked, then realized an
acorn lay but an inch away. Had it dropped that for her?
She turned her gaze back to the bird, and then sat up, suddenly filled with
wonder. УBut you are no oneТs pet, are you?Ф she whispered. УFlames!Ф She patted
a pocket in her waistcoat and removed a square of wet linen, then glanced back
at the bird.
УFarrelleТs ghost, but it must have begun already.Ф Tentatively she reached out
a hand to the dark-feathered birdЧcrowlike with a red bill and legs of the same
hue. But the bird hopped away, only a foot; and there it stayed. УChuff,Ф it
said again.
Anna laughed. У СChuffТ yourself.Ф Gingerly, she unfolded the linen and spread
it out on the ground in the sun. She separated each precious seed, blowing on
them gently. The seed had been her salvation; without it she would never have
found the resources to survive the trip out of the cavern, even though eating it
raw produced only a fraction of its power.
The bird began to hop about excitedly, and she turned a warning gaze upon it.
УThis is not for you,Ф she said.
Overwhelmed by sudden weariness, she leaned back against the bole of a tree, but
kept her eyes open, afraid the bird might make free with her seed. Where were
the others? Certainly they must be some hours ahead. She had waited as long as
she possibly could before following them out.
Anna had arrived at the pool and collapsed, too exhausted to start back up the