"Simon R. Green - Nightside 1 - Drinking Midnight Wine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

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.
'Would you shut up a minute and let me concentrate? I 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 anyone he knew,
and it seemed to be in a good state of preservation. The corpse's utter stillness was quietly
unnerving, inhuman; like some machine waiting for instructions. People weren't supposed to look