"Charles R Tanner - Tumithak Of The Towers Of Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tanner Charles R)

The strange mog bristled, and a scowl spread across his face. He raised his arm
in a threatening gesture and started to speak, but Tumithak silenced him for a
moment.
"This mog," he said, "is my mog. Twice now, has he proved his loyalty to me.
None who would be the friend of Tumithak can be the enemy of Kiletlok the Mog.
But that you may know him to be loyal, I will tell you of how I met him."
Tumithak directed a look of half-affectionate pride at Kiletlok, and went on:
"In Shawn, the fallen shelk town where my people dwell, we power our weapons
with the white and shining rods of power which only the shelks know the secret
of making. When the men of the Lower Corridors seized Shawn, some two years ago,
they seized many of those shining rods, and with them powered the machines that
they seized.
"But as time passed, the power rods were gradually used up, and the time came
when I saw it would be necessary to make a raid on some shelk town to secure
more rods of power. So with seven men, I set out one day to seek another shelk
town. And on the third day I beheld a group of shelks and mogs approaching in
the distance, so, concealing my men, we ambushed the shelks and attacked them.
Now fierce was the battle, for at its end all were dead save I and one mog. And
then that mog flung himself on his knees before me and called me master. He was
Kiletlok, and since then he has served me faithfully and well."
Kiletlok slapped his chest, and in his rumbling bass he growled assent.
"When a shelk slays another," he said, "the slain shelk's property goes to his
murderer. Thrice in my life I have changed masters that way, and if the last
time, my master was a man, should that change all the teachings that I have been
taught? Nay. So I serve Tumithak and serve him loyally until he is slain by
another."
This explanation seemed to satisfy practically all of the black men, and their
looks of distrust disappeared.
"But what of you, my brother?" Otaro said. "How came you to be with these great
heroes? And what goes on back at home, in the pits of the Kraylings?"
Mutassa's face clouded for a moment.
"There were ill times at the Place, after you left, Lord of the Kraylings.
Strife and confusion and rebellion--"
Otaro's eyes flashed.
"What mean you? Did Koudok--"
"Aye, Koudok!" Mutassa's eyes matched Otaro's as he told of the events that had
followed the capture of Otaro by the shelks:
"Koudok must have planned long and well, even before ever the shelk raid that
took you off. For many of the captains and doctors were on his side when he
staged his coup. And though few of the people would have followed him, they were
too afraid of the captains and the doctors to disobey. So I, who should have
succeeded you to the chieftainship, was deposed and it was only through the
kindness and sympathy of the common ones that I was able to conceal myself and
avoid the slaughter that Koudok had planned for me."
Otaro swore angrily.
"If ever I again see the Place," he swore, "Koudok shall answer to me--"
"Wait," Mutassa interrupted. "I have not told you the half. For two weeks or
more, I skulked in the Place, hiding now in this apartment, now in that,
cringing in deserted corridors and abandoned pits, and eating only when some
pitying Krayling shared his rations with me. But at last a patrol of searchers