"Darksaber (Kevin Anderson)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anderson Kevin J)

"But why the weapons?" Han said. "Looks like they're ready to snuff the
poor kid."

"They will, if he makes so much as one mistake. If the boy alters a
single word, the storyteller will chop down with his hand, and the Raiders
will kill the apprentice immediately. They believe that speaking the stories
in any manner other than the way they were originally told is great blasphemy.
"

Han said, "Not much room for mistakes, is there?"

Luke shook his head. The other Tuskens were concentrating completely on
the boy's speech. "The desert is a hard place, Han. It allows no room for
mistakes. The Sand People are a product of that environment. They have harsh
ways, but such harshness has been forced upon them."

The boy finished, and the old storyteller raised his other hand in a
congratulatory gesture. The young apprentice slumped with trembling relief,
and the other Sand People muttered their appreciation.

After a while, the fire was banked and began to burn low. The Tusken
Raiders settled down for the night.

"I'm going to get some rest," Han said. "You haven't slept in two days,
Luke. Can't you wait until they all go to sleep, then catch a nap yourself?"

Luke shook his head. "I don't dare. If I stop monitoring their thoughts,
if I release my hold on their minds, they might suddenly realize we're not
supposed to be with them. If somebody sounds an alarm, we're lost. Besides, a
Jedi can go a long time without rest."

"Whatever you say, buddy," Han said.

"We should reach Jabba's palace by tomorrow," Luke said with weary hope.

"I can't wait," Han said. "I mean, we had so much fun the last time we
were there."

CHAPTER 2

The Sand People roused themselves in the frigid darkness before the first
of Tatooine's twin suns crept over the horizon. Han shivered, finding no
warmth in his bandage wrappings. Luke moved more sluggishly than ever.

Han was worried about his friend. In addition to exhaustion, Luke was
suffering from deep frustration at his inability to help Callista-the Jedi
woman he loved-regain her lost powers. And now, after days without sleep on
the razor's edge of peril, hiding among ferocious desert nomads, Luke's
stamina was wearing dangerously thin.