"Tad Williams - Memory Sorrow & Thorn 2 - Stone of Farewell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Tad)

forward and set a steaming pot down at JirikiтАЩs feet, then quickly pulled three bowls out of
her tentlike sheepskin coat, arranging them in a semicircle. Though her diminutive fingers
worked nimbly, and her seamed, round-cheeked face was expressionless, Simon saw a
glimmer of fear in her eyes as they rose briefly to meet his. When she had finished, she
backed quickly out of the cave, disappearing under the door flap as silently as she had
appeared.
What is she afraid of? Simon wondered. Jiriki? But Binabik said the Qanuc and Sithi
have always gotten along тАУ more or less.
He suddenly thought of himself: twice as tall as a troll, red-haired, hairy-faced with his
first manтАЩs beard тАУ skinny as a switch, too, but since he was wrapped in blankets the old
Qanuc woman couldnтАЩt know that. What difference could the people of Yiqanuc see
between himself and a hated Rimmersman? HadnтАЩt SludigтАЩs people warred on the troll folk
for centuries?
тАЬWill you have some, Seoman?тАЭ Jiriki asked, pouring out steaming liquid from the
pot. тАЬThey have provided you with a bowl.тАЭ Simon reached out a hand. тАЬIs it more soup?тАЭ
тАЬIt is aka, as the Qanuc call it тАУ or as you would say, tea.тАЭ
тАЬTea!тАЭ He took the bowl eagerly. Judith, Kitchen Mistress of the Hayholt, had been
very fond of tea. She would sit down at the end of a long dayтАЩs work to nurse a great hot
mug full of the stuff, the kitchen filling with the vapors of steeped southern island herbs.
When she was in a good mood, she would let Simon have some, too. Usires, how he
missed his home!
тАЬI never thought...тАЭ he began, and took a great long swallow, only to spit it out a
moment later in a fit of coughing. тАЬWhat is it?тАЭ he choked. тАЬThatтАЩs not tea!тАЭ
Jiriki might have been smiling, but since he had his bowl up to his mouth, sipping
slowly, it was impossible to tell. тАЬCertainly it is,тАЭ the Sitha replied. тАЬThe Qanuc people use
different herbs than you SudhodaтАЩya, of course. How could it be otherwise, when they
have so little trade with your kind?тАЭ
Simon wiped his mouth, grimacing. тАЬBut itтАЩs salty!тАЭ He took a sniff of the bowl and
made another face. The Sitha nodded and sipped again. тАЬThey put salt in it, yes тАУ and
butter as well.тАЭ
тАЬButter!тАЭ
тАЬMarvelous are the ways of all MezumiiruтАЩs grandchildren,тАЭ Jiriki intoned solemnly,
тАЬ...endless is their variety.тАЭ
 Simon set the bowl down in disgust. тАЬButter. Usires help me, what a miserable
adventure.тАЭ
Jiriki calmly finished his tea. The mention of Mezumiiru reminded Simon again of his
troll friend, who one night in the forest had sung a song about the Moon-woman. His mood
turned sour once more.
тАЬBut what are we going to do for Binabik?тАЭ Simon asked. тАЬAnything?тАЭ
Jiriki lifted calm, catlike eyes. тАЬWe will have a chance to speak on his behalf
tomorrow. I have not yet discovered his crime. Few Qanuc speak any language but their
own тАУ your companion is a rare troll indeed тАУ and I am not very accomplished in theirs.
Neither do they like to share their thoughts with outsiders.тАЭ
тАЬWhatтАЩs happening tomorrow?тАЭ Simon asked, sinking back into his bed again. His
head was pounding. Why should he still feel so weak?
тАЬThere is a... court, I suppose. Where the Qanuc rulers hear and decide.тАЭ
тАЬAnd we are going to speak for Binabik?тАЭ
тАЬNo, Seoman, not as such,тАЭ Jiriki said gently. For a moment a strange look flitted
across his spare features. тАЬWe are going because you met the Dragon of the Mountain...
and lived. The lords of the Qanuc wish to see you. I do not doubt that your friendтАЩs crimes