"Iggulden, Conn - Emperor 1 - The Gates of Rome" - читать интересную книгу автора (Iggulden Conn)

Acknowledgments


Without the help and support of a number of people, this book would have never
been started or finished. I would like to thank Victoria, who has been a
constant source of help and encouragement. Also, the editors at HarperCollins,
who steered it through the process without too much pain. Any mistakes that
remain are, unfortunately, my own.


Also, Richard, who helped to cook the raven and made Marcus possible. Finally,
my wife, Ella, who had more faith than I did and made the way seem easy.








EMPEROR
The Gates of Rome









CHAPTER 1


The track in the woods was a wide causeway to the two boys strolling down it.
Both were so dirty with thick, black mud as to be almost unrecognizable as
human. The taller of the two had blue eyes that seemed unnaturally bright
against the cracking, itching mud that plastered him.
"We're going to be killed for this, Marcus," he said, grinning. In his hand, a
sling spun lazily, held taut with the weight of a smooth river pebble.
"Your fault, Gaius, for pushing me in. I told you the riverbed wasn't dry all
the way."
As he spoke, the shorter boy laughed and shoved his friend into the bushes that
lined the path. He whooped and ran as Gaius scrambled out and set off in
pursuit, sling whirring in a disc.