"S. L. Viehl - A Diversity of Houses" - читать интересную книгу автора (Viehl S. L)

arm of the intruder, who dropped the rifle.

The female bucked under him, frightened by the field

rover which came to a screeching halt behind him.

Sssssissss.

Something invisible hit Tavo with such force that it

drove him backward and over the animalтАЩs haunches to hit

the ground. The herd was moving away from him so he didnтАЩt

end up under her hooves, but as he landed the edge of one

of his blades bit into his left side.

тАЬStop!тАЭ a woman shouted

Tavo swore as he rolled and pushed himself to his

knees in time to see a tall female with unbound hair attack

the two intruders. Air whistled as she wielded the herding

staff in her hands like a sword, striking both with hard,

rapid blows. The uninjured of the pair drew a pulse pistol
 15


and fired at her. She used her staff to vault out of the

way, but it gave the intruders an opportunity to skirt

behind the now-receding herd and use it as a shield while

they ran away. Before she could catch up to them, they

climbed into a surface glider and took off, leaving her on

the ground.

She watched their craft until it was out of range, and

only then lowered the end of her staff to the ground.

тАЬHouseless scum,тАЭ he heard her say.