"C. S. Friedman - Coldfire 2 - When True Night Falls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friedman C. S)

he stood in the exact center of the circle he had marked,
and shut his eyes. For a moment he was silent, as if
readying himself. For what? Case wondered. What arcane
operation did the man imagine would give him control over
this violent, unpredictable world?

If only it were that easy, he thought bitterly. Draw a few
signs on the ground, recite an ancient incantation or two,
and behold, all problems disappear . . . for a brief moment
he wished that he shared the botanist's delusion. He
wondered if he, too, might not be willing to spill a little
blood, if he truly believed it would help the colony survive.
Human blood? It was a disturbing question, and not one he
wished to investigate further. God save him from ever
discovering that the shell of his morality was as thin and as
fragile as that of Ian Casca's sanity . . .

The botanist stirred. Slowly, breathing deeply, he raised
his hands up by his sides, and opened his eyes at last. The
lamplight barely picked out his features, but even so Case
could see the concentration that burned in his eyes, the
sweat of tension that gleamed on his brow. He began to
chant, in a manner that was half speech, half song. Case
caught a few words of something that sounded like Latin,
intermingled with bits that might be Greek, then Hebrew,
then Aramaic. It was as though Ian had taken all the ancient
tongues of Earth and sifted through them for words he
needed, then mixed them indescriminately to create this
custom-made ritual. Words of power, Case thought. For one
sickening moment he wondered if Ian might not be right, if
Earth's magical traditions might not wield some true power
in this extraterrestrial forum . . . but a moan from beneath
the blankets brought him back to his senses, and his hand
tightened about his gun. Even if it did work, he thought
grimly, it's not worth the price.

Then Ian stopped. Stared into the night. His whole body
was taut, rigid with tension. "Erna, hear me," he intoned. "I
offer you this sacrifice. I offer you the most precious thing
we possess: the lifeblood of Terra. In return I ask this: Take
us in. Make us part of you. We tried to be aliens on your
soil, and your creatures defeated us. Now make us part of
this world, as those creatures are part of it. And in return . .
. I offer you the heartsblood of Earth. The souls of this
colony, now and forever." He shut his eyes; Case thought
that he trembled. "May it please you," he whispered. "May
you find it acceptable."

His hands dropped down to his sides once more. For a
moment he was silent; perhaps waiting for an answer? Case