"Simon R. Green - Drinking Midnight Wine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

Leo was breathing hard now, cold beads of sweat standing out on his forehead, but he
didn't slow his pace any further. He'd come this far. He wanted, needed, to know.
He could feel a pressure building on the still air, as he neared the centre of the dead woods
and the farmhouse. The air seemed to push back against him, until it was like walking
headlong into a harsh, relentless wind. He had to lean forward as he walked, digging his feet
into the ash-covered ground. Each step became an effort, and he grunted and growled deep in
his throat as he forced his way on. His eyes were narrowed and his teeth were showing. If
someone was determined to keep him out, there had to be something worth knowing about at
the end of it. He'd almost forgotten his earlier intention to avenge his friend Reed; this had
become personal now. No one kept Leo Morn out when he wanted in.
He could feel necromantic energies growing all around him now, crackling on his skin and
spitting sparks from his hair. He'd never encountered magical defences this strong before.
They would have stopped any normal man, and most magical creatures. But Leo was born of
both worlds, and his dual nature seemed to confuse the defences, so they couldn't get a firm
grip on him. He trudged on, stronger and more stubborn than any mindless defence could
ever be. And then suddenly the pressure broke, and he almost fell forward.
He stopped for a moment to get his breath back, glaring about him. There were dead trees
everywhere he looked, for as far as he could see, as though the Blackacre woods were now
much bigger on the inside than they appeared on the outside. As though Blackacre was
growing, expanding, under the influence of its new owner. Leo sniffed at the still air, but
there were no living scents Just the dry and dusty air, the kind you find in a room that's been
left locked up and abandoned for many years The silence was so complete now he'd stopped
moving that he could hear every sound he made, from his harsh breathing to the rustling of
his clothes to his own heartbeat.
Stand very still.
'Why?' Leo said quickly 'What's happening?'
I sense something It's hard for me to see anything in Blackacre, it's like trying to see things out of
the corner of your eye, but I think I'm getting the hang of it You 're not alone here, Leo I can sense ten,
maybe twelve, dead men in the woods with you Can you see them 7
Leo looked quickly about him, into the artificial gloom of the thick woods, but couldn't see
or hear or smell anything, except Reed, moving farther away from him, up ahead.
'All I can see are trees Are you sure about this?' What are these other dead men doing?"
Of course I'm sure I'm always sure Make it twenty dead men I'm finding more all the time As far as
I can tell, they're just standing in the woods Standing guard, presumably Don't get too close to any of
them Proximity probably triggers an alarm Proceed with extreme caution, Leo Are you sure you can't
see any of them7 You're right on top of half a dozen.
'Great,' growled Leo. 'Just bloody great This gets better all the time No I can't see any bloody dead
guards You'll just have to guide me Steer me clear of the bastards Brother, who the hell are we up
against?' This is more than just some rogue necromancer'
Powers and Dominations, said his Brother Under The Hill Would I be wasting my time if I
suggested you make a strategic retreat, and not come back until you 've acquired a few more powerful
allies of your own7
'Yes.'
I thought so.
'Wouldyou shut up a minute and let me concentrate71 may not be a Power or a Domination, but I
can still be pretty damned sneaky when I put my mind to it'
Leo moved slowly forward, setting each foot down so carefully that the ashes burying the
ground accepted his weight without a murmur He swivelled his head slowly back and forth,
not even blinking his eyes, and at last he caught sight of one of the dead men, standing as still
as the dead trees Leo froze in place, and studied the dead man for a long time It wasn't