"Raymond E. Feist - Wood Boy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

Hamish hesitated a moment, then he and Dirk hurried over to help Alex to his
feet. 'What happened?' asked Dirk.
'I don't know,' said Alex. 'I just looked at the man.'
'It's how you looked at him,' said Hamish. 'You smirked at him. If you'd
looked at me that way, I'd have done the same.' The burly old soldier
inspected Alex. 'I had my fill of smirking boys in the army and knocked down a
few in my time before I retired. Show these murderers some respect, lad, or
they'll hang you just because they can and it's a slow day for amusements.'
Rubbing his side, Alex said, 'I won't do that again, you can bet.'
'See that you don't,' said Hamish. The old soldier motioned for Drogen, his
senior guard, to come over. 'Pass the word that the bastards seem touchy. Must
have something to do with the war. Just make sure the lads know to keep polite
and do whatever they're told.'
Drogen nodded and ran off. Hamish turned to inspect Alex again, then said,
'Get off with you. You'll live.'
Dirk helped Alex for a few steps. Then the man's legs seemed to steady and
Dirk let go of his arm. They don't seem to take kindly to any sort of
greeting,' said Dirk.
'I think keeping your eyes down or some such is what they want.'
Dirk said nothing. He was scared most of the time when he was around the
Tsurani and didn't look at them for that reason. That was probably a wise
choice, he judged.
'Can you take the wood?' asked Alex.
'Sure,' said Dirk before he realized that he was being asked to carry wood
to the Tsurani quarters. Dirk picked up the fallen bundle and wrestled with it
a moment before getting the unwieldy load under control. He moved to the door
of the outbuilding and hesitated, then rolled the wood back on his chest and
reached out to pull the latch rope.
The door opened slightly and Dirk pushed it open with his foot. He entered,
blinking a moment to get his eyes used to the darkness inside.
A half-dozen Tsurani warriors sat on their beds, speaking in quiet
conversation as they tended their arms and armour. Upon seeing the serving boy
enter, they fell silent. Dirk went to the woodbox next to the fireplace
situated in the centre of the rear wall and deposited his load there.
The Tsurani watched him with impassive expressions. He quickly left the
room. Closing the door behind him, he could hardly believe that just weeks
before the bed in the farthest comer had been his own. He and the other
workers had been turned out to the barn, except for the house staff who now
slept on the floor in Lord Paul's kitchen.
 There was little need for wood save for cooking, as the warm nights of
summer made sleeping fires unnecessary. The Tsurani used their fires primarily
for cooking their alien food, filling the area nearby with strange yet
intriguing aromas.
Dirk paused a moment and glanced around, taking in the images of White Hill;
familiar, yet cast in alien shadow by the invaders. Mikia and Torren, a young
couple engaged the week before at the Midsummer's festival, were approaching
the milking shed, hand in hand, and the invaders could be invisible for all
the distraction they provided the young lovers.
From the kitchen voices and the clatter of pots heralded the advent of the
noon meal. Dirk realized he was hungry. Still, he needed to carry firewood to