"David Gemmell - Rigante 4 - Stormrider" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

and teeth of a crazed beast. If necessary Kaelin would go and lift him from the trunk, but he knew
it would be better for the boy to make his own choice.
Years before, when Kaelin was just turned twelve, he and the giant Jaim Grymauch had taken part in
a search for a lost Varlish boy. It was believed the child had wandered into the low woods, and
search parties started out to find him. Jaim had doubted the prevailing wisdom, and, a long coil
of rope on his shoulders, had set off into the hills.
'Why are we heading here?' Kaelin had asked him.
'It is said the boy was troubled, and fearful. Other boys had threatened him. In the woods you can
hide - but you cannot see an enemy coming. Up in the hills you can also hide, but there are high
vantage points. From them you can watch your pursuers.'
They had searched for most of the day. Often Jaim would stop and squat down, listening. Kaelin
remembered it well. The big man would crouch, lift the band of black cloth around the socket of
his ruined left eye, and scratch at the puckered, stitched skin of his eyelid. It was something he
always did when he was worried. Towards dusk Kaelin heard a faint sound, and the two of them found
a fissure, where the ground had given way. Moving to it Jaim called the boy's name. He was
answered by a cry for help.
'Are you injured, lad?'
'No. Please get me out.'
'Can you stand? Are your arms still strong?'
'Yes. Please come and get me.'
‘I’ll lower a rope to you. You must tie it round your waist.'
'I can't,' wailed the child. 'Come and get me.'
'I can climb down there,' whispered Kaelin.
'I know,' said Jaim, softly. 'Maybe you will have to. Sit tight now, and be quiet while I talk to
the boy.' Jaim transferred his attention to the fissure. 'I know you are a brave lad. So listen to
me now. Up here the stars are about to shine, and the air is sweet. Have you ever heard of the
magic eye?'


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'No,' replied the boy.
And Jaim had told him a wondrous tall tale. 'Now my magic eye can always tell a hero,' he
finished. 'And you, my lad, are a hero. A lesser boy would have died in this fall. I am going to
lower the rope now. Let me know when you can feel it.' Jaim uncoiled the rope and gently threaded
it down the opening.
'I have it!'
'Put it round your waist. Nice and tight. Shout to me when you have done it.'
'Will you pull me up then?'
'I'm not a strong man, boy,' lied Jaim. 'You'll need to climb a little. I might be able to haul
you to the first handhold.'
'I can't climb,' wailed the boy. 'It's dark and I'm not strong.'
'Well, we'll see,' said Jaim. 'Is the rope tight?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Then you start to climb and I'll take in the slack.'
It took about twenty minutes for the boy to make the climb. When he at last emerged Jaim clapped
him on the back and told him how proud he was of him. 'You're a fine lad,' he said.
After they had returned the boy to his home, and were returning to their own, Kaelin asked: 'Why
did you torture him so? I could have climbed down there in a minute. And you are not weak at all.