"Karl Edward Wagner - Undertow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

could never escape him like that, but still when I walked by your
ship, I wanted to try! I thought I could go through the
motionsтАФpretend I was escaping him!
"Only I know there's no escape from Kane!"
"Kane!" Mavrsal breathed a curse. Anger toward the girl's
tormentor that had started to flare within him abruptly shuddered
under the chill blast of fear.
Kane! Even to a stranger in Carsultyal, greatest city of
mankind's dawn, that name evoked the spectre of terror. A
thousand tales were whispered of Kane; even in this city of
sorcery, where the lost knowledge of prehuman Earth had been
recovered to forge man's stolen civilization, Kane was a figure of
awe and mystery. Despite uncounted tales of strange and
disturbing nature, almost nothing was known for certain of the
man save that for generations his tower had brooded over
Carsultyal. There he followed the secret paths along which his
dark genius led him, and the hand of Kane was rarely seen
(though it was often felt) in the affairs of Carsultyal. Brother
sorcerers and masters of powers temporal alike spoke his name
with dread, and those who dared to make him an enemy seldom
were given Ion., to repent their audacity.
"Are you Kane's woman?" he blurted out.
Her voice was bitter. "So Kane would have it. His mistress. His
possession. Once, though, I was my own womanтАФbefore I was
fool enough to let Kane draw me into his web!"
"Can't you leave himтАФleave this city?"
"You don't know the power Kane commands! Who would risk
his anger to help me?"
Mavrsal squared his shoulders. "I owe no allegiance to Kane,
nor to his minions in Carsultyal. This ship may be weathered and
leaky, but she's mine, and I sail her where I please. If you're set
onтАФ"
Fear twisted her face. "Don't!" she gasped. "Don't even hint
this to me! You can't realize what power KaneтАФ
"What was that!"
Mavrsal tensed. From the night sounded the soft buffeting of
great leathery wings. Claws scraped against the timbers of the
deck outside. Suddenly the lantern flames seemed to shrink and
waver; shadow fell deep within the cabin.
"He's missed me!" Dessylyn moaned. "He's sent it to bring me
back!"
 His belly cold, Mavrsal drew his cutlass and turned stiffly
toward the door. The lamp flames were no more than a dying
blue gleam. Beyond the door a shuffling weight caused a
loosened plank to groan dully.
"No! Please!" she cried in desperation. "There's nothing you
can do! Stay back from the door!"
Mavrsal snarled, his face reflecting the rage and terror that
gripped him. Dessylyn pulled at his arm to draw him back.
He had locked the cabin door; a heavy iron bolt secured the