"David Eddings - The Dreamers 01 - The Elder gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

‘Zelana of the West told us that you were coming. She said you
wouldn’t know much about Dhrall, so I’m supposed to answer any
questions you might have.’
‘How could she have possibly known that we were coming?’ Sorgan
demanded. ‘We certainly didn’t intend to wander off this far from the
Land of Maag.’
‘But a sea-current caught you and brought you here. Wasn’t that what
happened?’
‘You seem to know a great deal about us, stranger, and I don’t even
know your name yet.’
‘I was just getting to that, Sorgan Hook-Beak,’ the tall man said. ‘I am
Longbow of the tribe of Old-Bear, and Zelana of the West instructed me
to direct you to the village of White-Braid, Chief of the village and the
tribe of Lattash. There are three tribes between here and Lattash, and
they’ll build fires on the beach to guide you. You can count as far as
three, can’t you?’
‘Of course I can.’ Sorgan was more than a little offended. ‘How is it
that you came by the name “Longbow”?’
‘I’m somewhat taller than the other men of Old-Bear’s tribe, so my
bow’s longer.’ He held up his bow to let Sorgan see it. He didn’t move it
very fast, there was no arrow anywhere in sight, and he was not holding it
as if he intended to use it. Both Longbow and Sorgan were being careful
not to make any quick moves, since there were probably several dozen
arrows pointed at them right now.
‘Nicely crafted bow,’ Sorgan observed.
‘It does what I want it to do,’ Longbow said modestly. ‘It hasn’t yet
missed at any range.’
Sorgan assumed that the blond man was boasting, but he sounded so
sincere that it wasn’t entirely certain. ‘Just how far south is this Lattash
place?’ he asked.
‘As far as a man can walk in ten days,’ Longbow replied. ‘After you
pass the fires on the beach, you’ll come to a narrow inlet that leads into a
fairly large bay. Lattash stands at the head of that bay, and Zelana awaits
you at Lattash.’
Sorgan squinted at the water, making some calculations in his head.
‘I’m just guessing, but I’d say that the Seagull - that’s my ship over there
- should make it in three days.’
‘I wouldn’t take much longer, if I were you,’ Longbow advised.
‘Zelana’s impatient, and you don’t want to irritate her. I’m supposed to
ask you if the word “gold” has any meaning for you.’
‘Oh, yes!’ Sorgan replied fervently.
‘I wouldn’t know myself, but Zelana told me to say “gold” to you.
Have you enough food and water for three days? I don’t think Zelana will
let you stop again on your way south.’
‘How’s she going to stop me?’
‘I don’t think you really want to know, Sorgan Hook-Beak. We’ll
probably meet again, but for right now you’d better move along as
quickly as you can. Things will go better if you do.’
 3