"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 28 - Melome" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

"Guaranteed entertainment for a mere five kobolds and your
money back if dissatisfied. You, sir? Here, my lord!"

Dumarest felt the spool thrust into his hand and held it as he
stared at the woman. She was no longer young, raddled beneath
her paint, the body shapeless, the eyes hard.

He said, "You spoke of Terra."

"Terror, my lord? Aye, that and more for those with the
courage to face it. Here you will find the ancient and dire songs
of fear and hate and abject terror. Threnodies to chill the blood
and numb the mind. A unique experience and one not to be
missed. You there, sir! And you!"

A mistake, one born of noise and confusion, and natural
enough to make. The twist of a vowelтАФyet for a moment there
had been hope. The hope died as Dumarest looked again at the
girl, the older woman, the two men squatting to one side.
Ragged, both old, one with a drum, the other holding a pipe. Its
wail rose as the woman returned to halt before him.

"The last place, my lord. Take it and we can begin."

A market-spectacle, born of illusion and the circumstance of
the moment; it could be little more than that. But curiosity
remained, why the belt, the connecting strands? How did the
woman hope to prevent those who had not paid from enjoying
what she had to offer?

"My lord!" The woman smiled as she took his money and
handed him the spool. "Be seated. All be seated and let the
entertainment commence!"

The spool was spring-loaded, the strand remaining taut as
Dumarest sat on the ground, forming a connection between his
hand and the belt the girl wore against her naked flesh.
Connections repeated by all who had paid to join the circle. Like
a spider in the center of a shimmering web the girl stood,
motionless.

The tap of the drum joined the wail of the pipe, a throbbing,
monotonous beat which seemed too loud for the instrument, as
the wail of the pipe seemed too loud, the sudden hush drowning
normal sounds too strong. A moment in which his eyes followed
the glinting strand, moved to others, returned to his own and
then, without warning, the girl began to sing.

A song without words.