"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 16 - Snakes Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

The hillock gave way before them to a gentle down-slope. This abruptly turned into a sharp but not high
drop, falling for a couple of meters to a flat, wide surface that might have been a sunken road. It was not,
though it was gravel-paved across much of its surface, with streaks of darker ground forming ridges here
and there.

The dry riverbed they were approaching was impressively broad. At one time a considerable amount of
water must have flowed through this part of the High Desert, and recently, judging from the still-uneroded
banks.

On the far bank lay a darker spot, which Yakus was gesturing at excitedly. It stood out clearly against
the lighter material of the banks: unmistakably a gap in the rocky soil.


file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...n%20Foster%20-%20Flinx%2016%20-%20Snakes%20Eyes.htm (13 of 31)19-2-2006 17:10:40
 Foster, Alan Dean - Commonwealth 16 - Flinx - Snakes Eyes (SS) (v1.0)


"And there's the pocket!" Yakus's excitement was evident in his voice. His hand moved to the south,
tracing an invisible path along the extinct river. "Downstream the river floor divides. I found the first piece
of crystal a dozen kilometers down there. Had to dig my way upstream. There are twenty other caves, not
as big as that one, lining the stream bed in that direction." He nodded at the excavation across the riverbed.

"That hole's the twenty-first. I didn't think it would be the last, but it was. Let's go."

They started toward the river. Flinx regarded the nearing bank warily. "I've never ridden muccax before.
You sure they can handle this drop?"

"They're not fast and long-legged, but they're durable." Yakus looked behind them. "They'll handle the
bank all right, but I'm a little worried about the dryzam. Seems kind of tired."

"That doesn't surprise me," Flinx replied, "considering the weight of those supplies it's carrying." He
looked over a shoulder, saw the placid five-eyed creature trailing dutifully behind them, packages piled
high between the stiff dorsal fins. "It's big enough. It should be able to put its front legs all the way down
to the bed while its back legs rest on the bank top. As long as it doesn't break in the middle, I think it can
make it."

"Hope you're right, boy. We'll have to try it. I don't feel like packing and unpacking half that stuff out in
the midday sun..."




Savaya peered over the crest of the sandy ridge. Next to her, Michelos was raising the muzzle of his
rifle. She motioned cautioningly to him. "Not yet. Wait till they start crossing the riverbed. Out there
they'll have no cover at all and no place to retreat. I don't think a muccax can hop up that bank with a man
on its back."

Michelos grumbled but held his fire.

The little party of two started down a slight break in the dry river wall where the parched earth had