"Gardner F. Fox - Kothar 01 - Kothar Barbarian Swordsman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fox Gardner F)

noisome as a marsh at low tide—slithered down the far wall. Its head
reared up, questing, and Kothar saw its pink nostrils flare as it smelled
him out. Its other end was lost in the shadows high atop the cavern
ceiling, but what the barbarian saw was enough to make his heart thud in
dismay.

As the slug moved, it left glowing blue shine behind it. This then, was
what kept the cavern eternally lighted for any rash human who might
choose to come wandering here. Kothar nodded grimly and drew his
blade.

He advanced cautiously. The memory of those human bones was in his
brain; he knew the worm was no mean antagonist. Other men had died
within sight of that great treasure. Kothar resolved he would live to carry
it away.

The worm was close now, towering above his head, and Kothar was a
tall man. Its maw was opening and closing as if it tasted the human flesh
awaiting its appetite. Its maw was dripping slime in great drops onto the
floor as the slug undulated closer.

Kothar leaped, sword high to slash.
 In midleap a drop of that slime from the slug's mouth splashed on his
left shoulder. Agony burned through the big barbarian. A lesser man
would have screamed and staggered back, to fall victim to the gaping
maw. Not Kothar. He leaped forward, dodging another glob of slime.

Frostfire flashed in the blue light.

The great steel blade sank deep into blubbery white hide. With a savage
curse on his lips, Kothar pulled it free, struck again. A gaping wound
showed in the writhing, twisting worm. The head was moving to left and
right, the maw was opening and closing, the giant slug was making a
mewling sound. It was hurt, badly hurt. Faster it moved, as if to
overwhelm this rash enemy with its sheer bulk.

Kothar never ceased to strike, slashing again and again at that great
hulk, widening the slit in its side. The blue length of Frostfire was slimed
now with ichor, it stank as the worm stank, and made the young giant
snort his disgust. Yet always that blade moved, and as it moved, it cut
deep into and through the worm meat.

With a soft plop the rest of the great worm fell from the wall. Instantly
it began to twist and flop about, seeking to catch this rash intruder in its
domain and slay him. Twice the huge length of the creature brushed
Kothar, twice it almost ran over him, nearly pinning him beneath that soft
weight from which there would be no escape, not even for his mighty
muscles.

Once the barbarian had to put a hand on that blubbery mass and vault