"Wolfe, Gene - The Urth Of The New Sun" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wolfe Gene)

that be worse than being lost among the rigging, as I had
been? Or in the endless space between the suns, as I had
nearly been?
I stood there vacillating until I heard the sound of
voices. It reminded me that my cloak was still, ridiculously,
knotted about my waist. I untied it, and had just
finished doing so when the people whose voices I had
heard came into view.
All were armed, but there all similarity ended. One
seemed an ordinary enough man, such as might have been
seen any day around the docks of Nessus; one of a race I
had never encountered in all my journeyings, tall as an
exultant and having skin not of the pinkish brown we are
pleased to call white, but truly white, as white as foam, and
crowned by hair that was white as well. The third was a
woman, only just shorter than I and thicker of limb than
any woman I had ever seen. Behind these three, seeming
almost to drive them before him, was a figure that might
have been that of a massive man in armor complete.
They would have passed me without a word if I had
allowed it, I think, but I stepped into the middle of the
corridor, forced them to halt, and explained my predicament.
"I have reported it," the armored figure told me. "Someone
will come for you, or I shall be sent with you.
Meanwhile you must come with me."
"Where are you going?" I asked, but he turned away as I
spoke, gesturing to the two men.
"Come on," the woman said, and kissed me. It was not a
long kiss, but there seemed to be a rough passion in it. She
took my arm in a grip that seemed as strong as a man's.
The ordinary sailor (who in fact did not look ordinary at
all, having a cheerful and rather handsome face and the
yellow hair of a southerner) said, "You'll have to come, or
they won't know where to look for you--if they look at all.
It probably won't be too bad." He spoke over his shoulder
as he walked, and the woman and I followed him.
The white-haired man said, "Perhaps you can help me."
I supposed that he had recognized me; and feeling in
need of as many allies as I might enlist, I told him I would
if I could.
"For the love of Danaides, be quiet," the woman said to
him. And then to me, "Do you have a weapon?"
I showed her my pistol.
"You'll have to be careful with that in here. Can you turn
it down?"
"I already have."
She and the rest bore calivers, arms much like fusils, but
with somewhat shorter though thicker stocks and more
slender barrels. There was a long dagger at her belt; both
the men had bolos, short, heavy, broad-bladed jungle