"Gray, Julia - Guardian 01 - The Dark Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gray Julia)

'Go find her window,' Elam whispered. 'I'll keep watch.'
Terrel nodded and set off immediately, moving with as much stealth as his awkward gait allowed, while his friend crept towards the corner at the front of the house.
When Terrel finally reached the skylight of Alyssa's cell, his earlier hopes soon faded. Elam had been quite right, of course; he couldn't see a thing. Calling her name softly - he dared not raise his voice - produced no response, but he persevered, lying down and pushing his face right up against the bars to peer into the darkness. Eventually he thought he could make out a slightly paler patch within the gloom - and if it was Alyssa, then it seemed that she still had not moved. But he couldn't be sure that it was not just his imagination playing tricks on him. He was about to call one last time when a sound broke the stillness of the night and he glanced up fearfully.
The voices were coming from around the corner to the rear of the building, but they were too far away for Terrel to make out what was being said. However, he was soon able to pick out the noise of footsteps, and the distant conversation became intelligible.
'Looks safe enough to me,' the first voice said.
'It's not going to flare up now, is it,' the second replied. 'I reckon it'll probably rain soon anyway.'
'This is a waste of time. Let's get back inside.'
'I'll just check the other one.'
'Suit yourself.'
Before Terrel realized what was happening, a man came round the corner of the house. Although he was only visible in silhouette, he was strolling nonchalantly and whistling to himself - and Terrel knew immediately who it was. However, that did nothing to make his predicament any less dire. Any movement now would give him away instantly, and yet if he stayed where he was, Ingo would pass so close he would probably stumble over him! Paralyzed by fear and indecision, Terrel could only wait for the inevitable.
The next thing he knew a small shadow was sprinting across the lawn towards the woods that lay to the north.
'Hey!' Ingo shouted, pausing for a moment in shock, before giving pursuit. 'Stop there!'
Terrel almost cried out, simultaneously grateful to Elam for providing a diversion and horrified that his friend was taking such a risk. However, he held his tongue and watched anxiously as first Ingo and then the other guard set off after their prey. And then, because he knew Elam would never forgive him if he didn't take advantage of the opportunity, he crept round the shadows at the side of the house until he was able to get inside and make his way up to the loft. Once there, all he could do was wait and hope.

Chapter Thirteen

It was almost dawn when Terrel finally heard footsteps on the spiral staircase. From the quietness of the approach he guessed it must be Elam - any soldiers looking for him would have no need of such stealth - but it was still an enormous relief when his friend reached the loft.
'Over here,' Terrel whispered.
In the near darkness it was impossible to tell how Elam looked, but it was obvious from his slow tread that he was very weary.
'Are you all right?' Terrel asked as his friend slumped down beside him.
'Fine.'
'You got away all right?'
'Of course. I'd kill myself if I couldn't outwit that idiot.'
'Did he recognize you?'
'I don't think so,' Elam replied. 'He didn't get close enough to see my face. With a bit of luck they won't even report it. Having to admit they lost me wouldn't make them look too good, would it.'
'But if they do,' Terrel said, 'they might check all the cells when the turnkey makes his rounds.'
'Well, there's nothing we can do about that now,' Elam remarked. 'I didn't see any signs of movement anywhere inside. Besides, we can always say we were caught in another part of the house at curfew and had to sleep where we were. That should confuse the issue, if nothing else.'
They were silent for a while.
'Elam,' Terrel said eventually. 'I . . . I . . .'
'Forget it,' his companion replied, not wanting any thanks.
'I ... I just hope I can be as good a friend to you sometime,' Terrel said awkwardly.
'You already are,' Elam replied. After another pause, he added, 'It just made sense, that's all. Ingo couldn't have missed you where you were, but I had the chance to get away clean. Even if you'd escaped, they were bound to recognize you.'
That was certainly true, Terrel thought, but it didn't stop him feeling both guilt and gratitude. However, he knew that saying as much would only embarrass them both.
'Was there any change with Alyssa?' Elam asked.
'Not as far as I could see.'
'Well, at least we got the journals safe.'
Terrel said nothing. Even that minor victory no longer seemed worth the risks they had taken. He had no idea if he would ever get the chance to read them.
Because the turnkey made his rounds at the normal time, with no sign of unusual activity, both Terrel and Elam were able to slip quietly back into their respective cells. Toresh and Rian regarded Terrel curiously, but said nothing, and he did not think they would betray him.
The soldiers soon ordered everyone from their rooms, as they had done for the last few days, and as Terrel wearily prepared himself for another round of toil, he began to feel safe at last. However, the inmates were all herded towards the courtyard at the front of the house rather than to the north wing. The morning was cool and overcast, with a dampness in the air that promised the first rain in several days, but the sudden chill that Terrel felt as he stood in the midst of the crowd had nothing to do with the weather. Aylor emerged from the main entrance and stood at the top of the steps there, but it was not the captain's appearance nor his stern expression that made the boy's heart pound. It was the fact that Ingo was at his side. And at the Head Warden's first words, Terrel's fragile confidence evaporated altogether.
'It has been brought to my attention that the curfew was broken last night,' he stated bluntly, then turned to Ingo. 'Pick him out, warden.'
Terrel almost panicked then. He had seen Elam on the far side of the courtyard, but had deliberately not gone to join his friend. Now he could not help but glance in his direction, hoping against hope that Aylor was bluffing. However, as Ingo and two other guards pushed their way through the gathering, it was soon obvious that Elam was their target - and then Terrel did not know whether to go to his friend's aid or call out for him to run. In the end he did neither, and merely watched in horror as Elam was dragged, unprotesting, to the steps.
Aylor looked the prisoner up and down as if he were inspecting a particularly noisome piece of garbage, but Elam's expression showed no fear. Indeed his eyes were quite blank, and Terrel realized that his friend was experiencing another of his dizzy spells.
'Were you outside the house last night?' the captain asked, his voice deceptively mild.
Elam shook his head, but the movement seemed to disorientate him, and the guards who were holding his arms tightened their grip as his legs buckled. Terrel knew that they would take his sudden weakness as the result of guilt and fear.
'It's him, sir,' Ingo volunteered. 'I know the way he runs.
Aylor glanced at the warden, and the contempt in his eyes silenced any further comment.
'How did you get out?' he asked, returning his gaze to Elam.
'I didn't,' the boy replied, finding his voice.
'Then why weren't you in your assigned cell when it was unlocked this morning?'
'I was . . . No . . .' Elam's confusion seemed genuine. 'I missed the curfew. Had to sleep in another room.'