"Raymond Feist - Saga 2 - Magician - Master" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

and he started to choke. Coughing and sputtering, he tried
to keep calm but felt panic rise within him. He frantically
pushed at the weight across him but couldn't move it.

Abruptly he found his head above water; Laurie said,
"Spit, Pug! Get the muck out of your lungs, or you'll get
lung fever."

Pug coughed and spit. With Laurie holding his head,
he coutd catch his breath.

Laurie shouted, "Grab this branch. I'll pull him out
from under."

Several slaves splashed over, sweat beading their
bodies. They reached underwater and seized the branch.
Heaving, they managed to move it slightly, but Laurie
couldn't drag Pug out.

"Bring axes; we'll have to cut the branch from the
tree."

Other slaves were starting to bring axes over when
Nogamu shouted, "No. Leave him. We have no time for
this. There are trees to cut."

Laurie nearly screamed at him, "We can't leave him!
He'll drown!"

The overseer crossed over and struck Laurie across the
face with a lash. It cut deep into the singer's cheek, but he
didn't let go of his friend's head. "Back to work, slave.
You'll be beaten tonight for speaking to me that way. There
are others who can top. Now, let him go!" He struck Laurie
again. Laurie winced, but held Pug's head above water.

Nogamu raised his lash for a third blow, but was
halted by a voice from behind. "Cut the slave from under
the branch." Laurie saw the speaker was the young soldier
who had accompanied the slave master. The overseer
whirled about, unaccustomed to having his orders ques-
tioned. When he saw who had spoken, he bit back the
words that were on his lips. Bowing his head, he said, "My
lord's will."

He signaled for the slaves with the axes to cut Pug
loose, and in short order Pug was out from under the
branch. Laurie carried him over to where the young soldier
stood. Pug coughed the last water from out of his lungs
and gasped, "I thank the master for my life."