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

Chapter Twenty-One

The piglet came trotting through the forest with a bright, purposeful air. Terrel heard its rapid footsteps before he saw it, and wondered what it could be. When the small pink creature emerged from the twilight gloom, his first thought was that it might be the young of a wild boar - a species that still roamed some of Vadanis's more remote woodland regions. If it was, he had no wish to meet its parents; their reputation for violence was well known. However, as the piglet came closer, heading straight for him, he guessed from its colouring and demeanour that it was more likely to have escaped from a domestic sty. Even so, its actions seemed a little odd and as it drew nearer still, Terrel began to harbour a new suspicion - and a new hope.
Expectation turned to near certainty when the animal stopped no more than two paces from where he sat, lowered itself onto its haunches and impaled him with a direct, questioning stare.
'Alyssa?'
You 're learning.
Terrel had seen the ring now, looped around one of the piglet's delicate ears. He had been longing for this moment ever since the owl had flown away, but now he found himself tongue-tied. He had spent the day trying to forget the nature of the dream that had engulfed his mind and body the night before, but he'd been unable to do so - not least because a part of him had found the experience fascinating. He had felt the same sense of dislocation as he had when he'd 'witnessed' Shahan's death - as if he had been looking through another's eyes - and near the end he had heard mocking laughter that left him feeling humiliated as well as sickened. But his thoughts kept returning to some of the other images. Even though he had known that what he was doing was wrong, the pleasure of it had been very real And now, faced with Alyssa, he was hoping desperately that the last vestiges of those images had dissipated. This was one dream he did not want her to see.
How do you like my outfit? Her voice betrayed no sign that she had noticed anything untoward, and Terrel began to relax.
'It suits you.'
Legs aren't as good as wings, but having four of them is fun once you remember what order to move them in.
'I still wish . . .' Terrel began, then pushed the thought aside. Alyssa could only come to him in her own form if she was a ghost - and he did not want that. 'How does the ring get . . . ?' he asked instead, pointing at her ear, '. . . on there?'
It comes with me, she replied simply.
'I know that, but how . . . ?'
Some things are more important than their physical size and shape. When that's true, where they are isn't important either.
Terrel didn't really understand any of this, but he knew it was the only answer he was going to get.
'I'm glad you're here,' he said. 'Just hearing your voice is wonderful.'
And you're lonely.
Terrel nodded.
'I don't know what to do, where to go,' he said.
I think we may be able to help you with that.
At her words the forest air shivered, and her retinue of ghosts appeared. Elam was lying on his back on the ground, with his hands beneath his head and his legs crossed at the ankles. He looked completely at ease. The other two were further away, walking slowly, deep in conversation. They weren't taking any notice of their surroundings. In fact, as Terrel watched, Muzeni walked straight through the trunk of a beech tree, only reacting to it with a look of mild puzzlement when he had come out the other side.
Elam roused himself from whatever quiet contemplation had been occupying him, sat up and looked around.
I didn't think it was possible, he said, but your accommodations have actually got worse.
'I don't have much choice,' Terrel responded. We 'II have to see about that, his friend declared, then looked over at the other ghosts. Moons! Are those two still arguing?
Shahan and Muzeni were closer now, glowing gently in the fading light. They were still intent on their discussion, to the exclusion of everything else. 'What are they arguing about?' I'm not sure you want to know, Elam replied. Listen, Alyssa advised. You can hear them if you want. Terrel did as he was told, concentrating his attention on the two old men, and found that it was true.
If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were actually pleased that the Dark Moon is misbehaving, Shahan stated accusingly.
I'm just glad to be vindicated, Muzeni replied. His voice, like his image, was a little fuzzy round the edges. If you or any of your precious council had had your wits about you, you'd have been able to predict it too. But nothing ever changes at court, does it? They only ever let dullards inside the palace walls.
Yes, all right. We all know you're a genius, Shahan retorted, brushing aside the insult, but that doesn't help us now, does it? In any case, the Dark Moon's not the only thing affecting the islands. Even we dullards have worked that out.
I don't think I've ever had a more frustrating experience than being in that chamber and not being able to intervene, the heretic said. / mean, it was all very well Mentioned, but they're getting absolutely nowhere. Whenever they came close to something important, they just passed over it or dismissed it out of hand. And nobody so much as mentioned the boy.
He's in the minds of many, Shahan said, but they 're afraid to speak.
Politics! Muzeni spat disgustedly. The illusion of power that turns all men into cowards.
Not all, the seer contended. Besides, can you blame them? I was the only one who expressed any interest in the boy, the only one who went looking for him - and look what happened to me.
It had only just occurred to Terrel that he might be the boy they were talking about, but the reference to Shahan's fate had reminded him that he was supposed to have been instrumental in the seer's death - and this made him feel distinctly awkward.
What do you want? Muzeni grumbled peevishly. A medal? There's no point being a martyr unless your sacrifice inspires others to follow in your footsteps. I don't see much sign of that.
Whereas you inspired thousands, of course, Shahan replied, sarcastic in his turn.
I would have done, if anyone had been allowed to study my work, the heretic claimed angrily.
'Are they always like this?' Terrel whispered.
This is quite polite, for them, Elam replied. Half the time I don't even know what they're talking about, but they're always insulting each other.
'Do I have to listen to this?' Terrel asked.
I think you're meant to, Alyssa told him.
It's all right for you, Elam added. You're only here for a short while. I'm stuck with these two old bores all the time.
Why am I meant to listen? Terrel wondered. What's going on here? Are these ghosts - and Alyssa? - supposed to be helping one another? They seemed a hopelessly mismatched group.
Let's get back to what's important, Shahan said. The two old men were either unaware of the others' presence or were ignoring them completely.
All right, Muzeni agreed belligerently. You found the boy. Why didn't you sort the matter out then?
It wouldn't have been fair on him-
Fair? the heretic exclaimed. What would have been fair? Turning back time to the night of his birth, so you could all start again?
Terrel could stand no more of this. 'I wish you'd stop talking about me as if I wasn't here,' he said loudly.
The elderly ghosts turned to stare at him in surprise, as if aware of his existence for the first time. They were silent for a few moments, regarding him curiously.
'You were talking about me, weren't you?' Terrel asked, suddenly nervous.
Yes, Muzeni replied eventually, but whether you are actually here or not is an interesting question. Or whether we are here, come to that.