"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 03 - Toyman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

Dumarest shook his canteen. It made a liquid sound.

"Good. It is agreed?"

"Yes," said Dumarest. "But how about Sachen?"

"The boy?" Legrain shrugged. "Earl, my friend, you must
accept what is to be. The lad is as good as dead. We did him no
favor carrying him as we did. It would be better to ease his
passage. A pressure on the carotidsтАФit would be a kindness."

Dumarest made no comment, looking instead to where a third
man lay against the shelter of the rock. He too wore a slashed
tunic and golden helmet but had no breastplate. His breathing
was stentorian and, though he shivered, his ebony skin shone
with a dew of sweat. "Water," he gasped. "Water."

Dumarest rose, crossed toward him, touched his forehead.
The skin burned like fire. He gently lifted the tunic and
examined the blood-soaked rag tied and belted about the hips.
The material of the tunic was thin plastic, useless to keep out the
cold.

"Water," croaked the wounded man. "Please give me some
water."

"No," said Legrain.

"Shut up," said Dumarest. He uncorked his canteen and,
supporting Sachen's head, poured a thin trickle between the
parched lips. "Steady," he urged as the man tried to snatch the
canteen. "Too much will be bad for you." He set aside the
canteen. "How do you feel now, Jack?"

"Terrible." The boy's eyes held a momentary clarity. "Am I
dying. Earl?"

"You're in a bad way," said Dumarest. "But you're not dead
yet. Hang on, lad. You can get over this if you try." He found the
boy's hand, squeezed it, held it until his eyes clouded in fevered
delirium.

"Mother," muttered the boy. "Mother, I'm cold, help me."

"A spear in the guts," said Legrain as Dumarest returned to
his place by the fire. "Without antibiotics or medical aid the end
is a foregone conclusion. Pain, fever, delirium and death." He
turned his scrap of meat, sniffing at the odor. "He should have
made better use of his shield," he commented. "His shield and
his legs. To stand and fight the way he did was foolish. He didn't