"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest - Child of Earth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

garment. Unimpeded the heavy buckle swung on to crack against the woman's arm. Her shriek of pain
was echoed by the man's roar of anger. He rushed forward, belt swinging, the buckle catching Dumarest
on the shoulder and sending him to stagger and fall beside the fire. Again he felt the impact of the heavy
metal and rolled, reaching out, feeling heat, fire that seared as he gripped a handful of embers and flung
them into the snarling face.

тАЬGod!тАЭ The man screamed pawing at his eyes. тАЬHe's blinded me!тАЭ

The woman was fast. Water showered from a pot and washed away the ashes to reveal eyes filled with
streaming tears. A face that had turned into a killer's mask.

тАЬI'll get you,тАЭ he panted. тАЬI'll make you pay for that. I'll have you screaming for mercy before I've done
with you!тАЭ

Dumarest backed, his stomach knotted with fear, and felt the touch of wind against his shoulders as he
left the cave. It was barely dawn and a milky opalescence softened the harsh outlines of the terrain, wisps
of fading mist clinging to the face of the cliff, shredding as the man lunged through writhing vapors forming
a curtain to create an isolated area of conflict.

How to fight a man so much heavier and stronger than himself?

Dumarest turned, running to place distance between them, stumbling as his foot struck a stone. Stooping
he snatched it up and held it poised to throw.

тАЬStop! Leave me alone!тАЭ

тАЬBegging, you little bastard?тАЭ The man gloated, enjoying the moment. тАЬWell, beg on, boy. I owe you
nothing. Nothing but the beating of your life!тАЭ

The stone could be thrown but if he missed what then? A second stone would provide another missile
and Dumarest looked for one as he retreated from his enemy.

He found it as the man charged.

Desperation fed power to his arm and he threw the stone with all his strength. It hit a temple, the man
halting to touch his head, to examine the blood on his palm. Before he looked up the second stone had
followed the first, striking against his cheek. In a frenzy he rushed forward, hands extended, fingers
clawing. Dumarest felt them catch the neck of his garment to jerk the fabric from his body. A jerk which
threw him to the ground beneath his opponent, a fist smashing into his face, fingers closing around his
neck.

Fear drove him to attack in turn. He writhed, sending his hands over the bloated flesh, searching the
groin, finding the soft bag and gripping the testicles. He heard the shriek as he jerked and twisted, pulling
with nails dug deep. Rolling clear to leave his opponent moaning, clutching at his groin, blood thick
between his thighs.

More blood flowered beneath the hammering impact of stones from his sling. Missiles that tore flesh and
shattered bone exposing the brain and turning the skull into an oozing pulp of gray and crimson.

The woman said nothing as he entered the cave but silently handed him a bowl of water, her eyes