"Williams, Paul O - Pelbar 03 - The Dome in the Forest" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Paul O)

To David and Mary
A Del Key Boot
Published by Ballantine Books
Copyright й 1981 by Paul O. Williams
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada, Limited, Toronto, Canada.
library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 81-66660
ISBN 0-345-30087-4
Printed in Canada
First Edition: December 1981
Map by Chris Barbieri
Cover art by Ruth Sanderson
IN the darkness, the sound of rain slowed, and high on Gagen Tower on the river wall of the city of Pelbari-gan on the Heart, the first signs of light made the two guardsmen restless. They hunched against the chill in their sweeping raincapes, standing as much as possible under the weather canopy. Fires had been burning near die bank for some time now, and shadowy figures moving among them, as the dim cloud-filtered dawn began slowly to grow.
The taller guard yawned, ran his hands through his hair, and said sleepily, "The Shumai and Sentani are up early. What goes?"
The Shumai are taking some of the starband to the empty place southwest of here."
To the empty place?"
"Yes, It is almost the spring equinox. For many years 'now some of the Shumai have gone there every equinox, spring and fall, to see the rising of the great rod from the earth."
"What? Where did you hear about this?"
"Last night. I was down there. Hagen the Shumai was talking about it Winnt the Sentani is going out of curiosity. The Shumai insist that there is a rod of shining metal that rises out of the ground on a hillside near the edge of the empty place. A hunter first saw it by accident some years ago. Now a group of them always goes back and watches it Always at the equinox. It never fails."
MHuh. Does it ever come between times?**
MI don't know. They think not. I'm too sleepy now to think much about it. Besides, I want to get out of this incredible rain. Will it ever stop? I wonder why we have no flood yet."
"Not much snow in the north this year, I hear. But
2 The Dom* tn riwгowt
look. Even in this dim light you can see the river is bank-full."
"I wonder where the next watch is. It is time for bed.
Look at the light coming now."
The smaller guardsman picked up her short-sword and buckled, it on, murmuring, "1 hear our replacements coming.1*
The two new guardsmen emerged onto the tower platform and saluted, sleepily but in good form. "Where is Ahroe?" the taller guard asked.
"She is going with them. Down there. To see the rising
of the rod."
"Ahroe? Why? Does that mean Stel is going?" "Yes. Both, Ahroe is a representative to see this thing. A guardsman. The council thinks we should be aware of it. And StelЧwell, with her going, they felt it a courtesy to let him go as well."
The tall guard laughed. "She will take good care of him anyhow," he said as the two night guards slowly descended the winding stairs.
Below, on the bank, Hagen held the hand of Ahroe's son, Caret, as the boats were launched. The boy was about eleven, and unhappy to be left behind. Stel laughed as he squatted down and kissed him on the forehead. "Be good," he said. "Don't beat Hagen up. Don't tear down the city. Learn well. We won't be long. If you were three years older, perhaps you could come."
Caret frowned deeply and pushed out his lower Up. "Come, Caret," said Ahroe. "Give us a guardsman's
face." He tried, but the result was comical. No one laughed at
him, though.
"Caret," Hagen began gently. "We will take a walk up to the blufftop to see them go downriver. Come, now. Let's
get you a coat."
Ahroe quickly pushed off the arrowboat They paddled out to join the Sentani flotilla, shuddering a little hi the chill rain out on the water. The Sentani starband, orderly as usual, had already formed their pattern of boats. The Shumai running hunters knew little of boating and had no formation. But they were eager, since it was nearly time for the rising of the rod, and they leaned into their paddles. Tor, their axeman, stood in the middle of their largest canoe, slim and broad-shouldered. He shifted
Tho Dom* to tho Forest 3
easily with the rocking of the craft, as his paddlers drove their blades into the river, catching the rhythm of the long strokes they would use all day. The strange fleet moved downstream through the gray spring morning.
At the third promontory on the bluffs, the prescribed place, the guardsmen on the tower sent along the long, haunting notes of departure and farewell from their great trumpets, and the paddles of the whole group were held up momentarily in reply. The rain continued, and the rhythmic paddling became almost a hypnotic relief from it, something to keep one occupied and warm.
They paddled with only one break, at noon, until after dark, then drew the boats well up onto the west bank, away from the river. Here there were no bluffs, and the water stood back into the trees on the shore.
Two Shumai hunters had gone ahead, running, three days earlier. They had a giant fire going, with large pieces of wild cow sputtering on it. There was not much singing, though, or celebrating. After they all ate, they crawled under the boat shelters, bone weary with paddling, and settled for sleep.
"Will there be a flood?" Ahroe whispered.
"Perhaps a small one," said Stel. "But the starband said there was not a great depth of snow up north near the Bitter Sea. I think we will not have a big one."
"I didn't think I'd ever say it nine years ago, but it is good to be traveling again."
"With you. Come closer. Are you fully out of the rain?"
"Come on, Stel. Kiss me once, and let us get to sleep. Do you think there is anything to it? This rod?"
"Of course. I wonder what."
"We will see. There will be a long run. Good night" Ahroe settled herself, her graceful wrist thrown across StePs shoulder. He didn't move until she slept deeply, then he gently put her arm into her sleepsack and drew ft around her.