"Joan D. Vinge - The Storm King" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Joan D)

sheer, unscalable face of stone. A fast-falling torrent of water roared on their left,
plunging out and down the cliff-face. The sun winked at him from the
cloud-wreathed heights; its angle told him they had climbed for the better part of the
day. He looked over at the girl.

тАЬYouтАЩre lucky,тАЭ she said, without looking back at him. Before he could even
laugh at the grotesque irony of the statement she raised her hand, pointing on up the
mountain-side. тАЬThe Storm King sleepsтАФanother storm is past. I saw the rainbow
break this sunrise.тАЭ

He felt a surge of strength and hope, absorbed the indiffer-ent blessing of the
Holy Sun. тАЬHow long will it sleep?тАЭ

тАЬTwo more days, perhaps. You wonтАЩt reach its den before night. Sleep here,
and climb again tomorrow.тАЭ

тАЬAnd then?тАЭ He looked toward her expectantly.

She shrugged.

тАЬI paid you well,тАЭ not certain in what coin, anymore. тАЬI want a fair return!
How do I pen the beast?тАЭ

Her hand tightened around the crystal pendant hanging against her tunic. She
glanced back into the cave mouth.

тАЬThere are many waters flowing from the heights. One of them might be
diverted to fall past the entrance of its lair.тАЩтАЩ

тАЬA waterfall? I might as well hold up a rose and expect it to cower!тАЭ

тАЬPower always has its price; as the Old One said.тАЭ She looked directly at him
at last. тАЬThe storm rests here in mortal formтАФthe form of the dragon. And like all
mortals, it suffers. Its strength lies in the scales that cover its skin. The rain washes
them awayтАФthe storm is agony to the stormbringer. They fall like jewels, they catch
the light as they fall, like a trail of rainbow. ItтАЩs the only rainbow anyone here has
ever seen ... a sign of hope, because it means an end to the storm; but a curse, too,
because the storm will always return, endlessly.тАЭ

тАЬThen I could have it at my mercy. ...тАЭ He heard nothing else.

тАЬYes. If you can make the Earth move to your will.тАЭ Her voice was flat.

His hands tightened. тАЬI have enough hate in me for that.тАЭ

тАЬAnd what will you demand, to ease it?тАЭ She glanced at him again, and back
at the sky. тАЬThe dragon is defiling this sacred place; it should be driven out. You
could become a hero to my people, if you forced the dragon to go away. A god.
They need a god who can do them some goodтАжтАЭ