"Haggard, H Rider- The Wizard" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haggard H. Rider)

--for by that title you bade me make you known--'who for a year has
dwelt in the land that your spears have wasted beyond the banks of the
river. These are the words which he spoke to me, O King, that I pass
on to you with my tongue: "To the King Umsuka, lord of the Amasuka,
the Sons of Fire, I, Messenger, who am the servant and the ambassador
of the King of Heaven, give greeting. A year ago, King, I sent to you
saying that the message which was brought by that white man whom you
drove from your land had reached the ears of Him whom I serve, the
High and Holy One, and that, speaking in my heart, He had commanded me
to take up the challenge of your message. Here am I, therefore, ready
to abide by the law which you have laid down; for if guile or lies be
found in me, then let me travel from your land across the bridge of
spears. Still, I would dwell a little while here where I am before I
pass into the shadow of your rule and speak in the ears of your people
as I have been bidden. Know, King, that first I would learn your
tongue, and therefore I demand that one of your people may be sent to
dwell with me and to teach me that tongue. King, you heard my words
and you sent me a man to dwell with me, and that man has taught me
your tongue, and I also have taught him, converting him to my faith
and giving him a new name, the name of John. King, now I seek your
leave to visit you, and to deliver into your ears the words with which
I, Messenger, am charged. I have spoken."'

"Thus I, John, addressed the great ones, my father, and they listened
in silence. When I had done they spoke together, a word here and a
word there. Then Hokosa, the king's mouth, answered me, telling the
thought of the king: 'You are a bold man, you whose name is John, but
who once had another name--you, my servant, who dare to appear before
me, and to make it known to me that you have been turned to a new
faith and serve another king than I. Yet because you are bold, I
forgive you. Go back now to that white man who is named Messenger and
who comes upon an embassy to me from the Lord of Heaven, and bid him
come in peace. Yet warn him once again that here also we know
something of the Powers that are not seen, here also we have our
wizards who draw wisdom from the air, who tame the thunderbolt and
compel the rain, and that he must show himself greater than all of
these if he would not pass hence by the bridge of spears. Let him,
therefore, take counsel with his heart and with Him he serves, if such
a One there is, and let him come or let him stay away as it shall
please him.'"

"So be it," said Owen; "the words of the king are good, and to-morrow
we will start for the Great Place."

John heard and assented, but without eagerness.

"My father," he said, in a doubtful and tentative voice, "would it not
perhaps be better to bide here awhile first?"

"Why?" asked Owen. "We have sown, and now is the hour to reap."