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

frightened, little sucking noises coming from her lips. Her man was dead, who would provide? The boy
was better than nothing, a decision that dropped her hand from the knife tucked into her rags but
Dumarest noticed the gesture and was cautious as she washed blood from his nose and mouth.

тАЬHe hurt you.тАЭ The woman was at his side judging the right time to establish her authority. тАЬHe was
drunk, mad, crazed and dangerous. I was afraid of him. That's why I couldn't help you last night.тАЭ

Snorting he cleared his nose of clotted blood.

тАЬI tried to stop him this morning,тАЭ she continued. тАЬHe pushed me aside. You didn't see that, you were
out of the cave by then. The bastard hurt me.тАЭ She winced as she pressed a hand to her side.

тАЬHe was always hurting me. I'm glad he's dead. Your nose hurt?

тАЬNo.тАЭ

тАЬIt will.тАЭ She lifted her hands towards him. тАЬUnless you let me fix it you'll have trouble later on. It will
block your breathing.тАЭ

Dumarest said, тАЬGive me your knife.тАЭ

тАЬKnife? Knife? What the hell are you talking about?тАЭ

тАЬThe knife,тАЭ he said again. тАЬThe one in your skirt. I just want to see it.тАЭ Then, as she continued to shake
her head, he added. тАЬI might be able to make one like it. It will be useful when hunting. I'll be able to get
us more food.тАЭ

тАЬYou'll hunt for me?тАЭ Dirt cracked in the creases of her face as she smiled. тАЬYou're a good boy, Earl.
I've always thought of you as my own. Stick with me and I'll look after you. Stand by me and you won't
regret it.тАЭ

тАЬThe knife?тАЭ He held out his hand. тАЬI'll look at it while you fix my nose.тАЭ

It was crude, a strip of pointed and edged metal with slats of wood to form a grip, the whole held
together with lashings of twine. He turned it as her fingers pressed at his nose, pushing cartilage back into
place, roughly shaping the damaged tissue.

тАЬThere!тАЭ She stepped back dropping her hands. тАЬYou finished with my knife?тАЭ

тАЬI'm keeping it.тАЭ

тАЬKeeping it?тАЭ Her voice rose in a shriek of protest. тАЬStealing it, you mean. First you kill my man then you
rob me. Why stop there? Why not kill me too? Go ahead, you young swine. Kill me. Kill me, I dare
you!тАЭ Her face changed as he lifted the blade. тАЬNo! No, I didn't mean that!тАЭ

тАЬHow do you sharpen it? With a stone or a file? If you have a file I want that too.тАЭ

тАЬA stone,тАЭ she said bitterly. тАЬI haven't a file. Not now. He sold it for a bottle.тАЭ She watched as he moved
about the cave. тАЬWhat are you doing now? Robbing me some more?тАЭ