"Wentworth-AsYouSow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wentworth K D)

"Looking at those funny birds of yours."

Ungern began to run.

They had come from the village, a rustling, whispering, pointing crowd of women
and old men and big-eyed children, all gathered on one side of his pond. Ungern
regarded them with dismay as he and Nigol topped the last hill.

Sonya stood in the middle of the whole mess, her shoulders thrown back, her arms
crossed, her legs planted like trees. An icy tingle of dread shivered down
Ungern's back.

In the pond, his uneasy flock of birds had retreated to the opposite shore which
was protected by cattails and thick, brambly brush. There, they watched the
crowd nervously, ducking their long, graceful necks, huddling together and
muttering in low bird-voices.

"So there you are, you moron!" Sonya's voice rang out, silencing the crowd.

He tried to meet her angry eyes without flinching. "I came as fast as I could."

Over on the other shore, the heavy brush began to crack and snap as a
determined, grimy-faced urchin pushed through with a rock in his hand. The shy
birds squawked and fluttered their wings, hurriedly wading out toward the middle
of the pond.

"Stop that!" Ungern waved his arms at the boy. "Leave them alone! You're scaring
them!"

A muffled current of laughter ran through the assembled villagers. Sonya's face
darkened.

"Hey, Ungern!" Ants Andreesen, the oldest man for three villages, hobbled to the
forefront and held up his walking stick. "I have a bet with Hans here that my
wife can cook anything and make it taste fit for the lord's table. I'll give you
a copper for two of your fattest birds."

"They're not for sale!" A wave of panic surged through him as, on the other side
of the pond, the boy drew back his arm to fling the stone. Without thinking,
Ungern plunged into the pond and waded toward him. "Stop that, you young
hooligan!"

Startled, the boy hesitated.

"Go on, get out!" Ungern's feet lost contact with the bottom of the pond. He
slipped, swallowed a mouthful of green water, then began to swim, his arms
splashing awkwardly, his feet kicking.

The boy giggled, and sailed the rock through the clear morning air. A tall