"Stasheff, Christopher - Warlock 04 - The Warlock Enraged" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stasheff Christopher)

with their foraging." He stiffened at a sudden thought, star-
ing at her. "We are allowed to gather berries, aren't we?"

Rod sat bolt upright with a hissing-in of breath, staring
about him, wide-eyed.

The night breathed all around him, hushed. Far away,
crickets and frogs wove counterpoint that darted harmony
with the myriad of stars. The land lay deep in peace.

Rod sagged against the prop of his arm, relieved by

THE WARLOCK ENRAGED 23

reality. Adrenalin ebbed, and his hammering heart began to
slow. He couldn't even remember the nightmareЧonly that,
vaguely, the face was Lord Kem's.

This had to stop. Somehow, he had to break this spell.
Somebody moaned; not surprising, the way he felt.

Then he stiffened, all his attention concentrated on his
ears. Whoever had moaned, it hadn't been him.

Then, who...?

The sound came again, louder and closer. It wasn't a
moan, reallyЧmore of a grinding sound. Not moving. Rod
murmured, "Pess?"

"Here, Rod." Being a robot, Fess never slept. In fact,
he scarcely ever powered down.

"Hear anything out of the ordinary?"

"Yes, Rod. The sound is that of rock moving against
rock. When the frequency of its repetitions is accelerated,
there is a discernible Doppler shift..."

"Coming, or going?"

"ComingЧand rather rapidly, I should..."

Trees at the edge of the meadow trembled, and a huge,
dark form came into sight. The silhouette was crudely hu-
man.

Rod was on his feet and darting over to Fess. He yanked
a light out of the pack, aimed it at the dark form, and pressed
the tab. "Gwen!"