"Dave Duncan - A Handfull of Men 4 - The Living God" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

Tap. Creak.


Suddenly she cackled shrilly.


"Child? Another child? Well, that's different, isn't it? That's what love brings, isn't it, children?"




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 The Living God

Chortling, she turned and wandered back the way she had come, slippers shuffling on the threadbare rugs.


"Nothing you can do about it, Ghosts. Nothing I can do. They're far away now, Ghosts. Have to handle the danger by themselves, won't they?" She
chuckled hoarsely. "Another child! Well, what would you expect?" Floorboards creaked as she shuffled to the stairs.


"Going to be a problem, that one, isn't it?" she muttered.




ONE
Still pursuing

1

"Faster, Ylo!" Maya urged. "Make horse go faster!"


She sat on Ylo's lap, jiggling the reins ferociously. As the traces were firmly gripped in Ylo's strong hands, also, the big gray was probably unaware
of the divided leadership. It certainly did not care. It plodded doggedly, not even flickering its ears, stoically fulfilling the role the Gods had
assigned it. Every second day it would haul some traveler's rig up the hill. The next day it would haul another one down. Nothing about that to
puzzle a horse. Not even Ylo's skills would make it go any faster, either, even had he wanted it to.


Huddled in the fur cloak she had not worn in months, Eshiala watched the byplay with heavenly contentment. She, at least, was in no hurry. Days
like these could go on forever and she would never tire of them. For the last hour the road had been winding gently upward through a dense mist, so
that almost nothing was visible except the well-fitted stones of the road itself, built centuries ago by the legions and still in perfect order. Wiry grass
along the verge glistened with dampness and a few ghostly bushes lurked beyond that like predatory wraiths in the fog. Once in a while now she
glimpsed ragged remains of the winter's snow. Summer came late to the highlands of the Qoble Range.


"You promised me beautiful scenery when we reached the pass," she teased. '