"Dave Duncan - A Handful Of Men 1 - The Cutting Edge" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

every knot as the two of them had built the cottage together, over their special Place. But for the life of her she could not remember which poor
child had been sent to keep her Death Watch. She could not even remember all the family coming to say good-bye to her, but she knew they must
have. How long had she been lingering and making this poor girl wait? She licked her lips.


"Drink?" the child asked. "You want a drink? I'll get you one. " Eager to please, eager to feel that she was doing something useful : ..


Phain recalled her own turn at Death Watch. A nasty, stringy old man named ... couldn't remember, never mind. He'd taken a week to die, given her
no thanks, thrown up everything she fed him ... He had smelled quite horrible, as she doubtless did to this youngster now helping her hold her head
up to sip from a half gourd. The water was cool, so it must have come fresh from the stream.


"Name, child? Forgotten your name."


"Thaile of the Gaib Place."


Gaib? Didn't mean anything. Phain tried to speak again. "Yes?" the child cried in sudden panic. "What? I can't hear!" And she sprawled over Phain
on the bedding, pressing an ear close to her lips.


Poor thing was terrified, of course. Frightened of death, frightened of suffering, frightened of messing it all up.


"Not yet!" the woman gasped, almost wanting to laugh. "Oh!" The child-Thaile-scrambled back. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean ... I thought ... I mean,
I'm sorry. "


Phain dug down in her lungs, finding just enough air at the bottom there to make a chuckle, and a few words. "Just wanted to ask who your mother
was, Thaile."


"Oh! Frial of the Gaib Place."


Ah, yes! Frial was her oldest granddaughter, so this leggy filly must be one of her great-granddaughters. Fancy that! Not many lived long enough to
pass on their word to a greatgrandchild. Gaib was the quiet, solid one with the pointy ears. Pointier than most, she meant.



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 The Cutting Edge


"Food?" Thaile asked. "Can I get you something to eat, Grammy?"


Phain shook her head and closed her eyes to nap a little. She hoped she wouldn't linger much longer. She was too weary to speak more now. Only