"Robert Jordan - Conan The Indomitable" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

voice added to his confusion. It was deep, that of a strong man. Coming from those ruby lips, it sounded
most odd indeed.

"Stand and deliver what?" Conan asked. "Are you blind, that I appear to be some fat merchant laden
with gold or wares? What you see is all I own, and that is little enough."

"I will have your sword," the figure said.

At that moment Elashi appeared behind the six, clambering up the rock so that she was above them.

Conan swung the sword back and forth to limber his shoulder, then gripped the handle with both hands
and aimed the point at the throat of the nearest pikeman, a techinque he had learned from the
swordmaster of the Suddah Oblates. "I think not," he said.

The pikeman swallowed dryly.

"Do not be a fool," the horse rider said. "We are six to your one. Give us your sword and live. Refuse
and die."

"I find it somewhat strange that you seem willing to lose at least some of your men to collect a sword.
Such an exchange is bad business. I think that perhaps there is something else on your mind."

The man-woman laughed, a deep, throaty sound. "Wise, for a savage."

On the boulder, Elashi had put her sword down and was lifting a head-sized rock.

The leader of the bandits leaned forward on the horse. The creak of the saddle leather was loud in the
otherwise quiet clearing. "Very well. Then we shall have to obtain that which we wish the hard way. Take
him!"

Elashi chose this precise instant to hurl the rock she held. Now the desert woman was not much of a
swordswoman, true, and she talked too much for Oman's taste, but apparently the throwing of rocks
could be numbered among her skills: the large stone smacked into the head of one of the pikemen, felling
him like a poleaxed pig. The sound of the rock striking the skull was much like that of a melon when
smashed with a heavy board. That worthy would trouble no one else in this world.

Startled, the pikemen turned to espy this new threat. The rider's mount shied at the sudden movements,
backing itself almost to the boulder. Before the rider could turn, Elashi, sword in hand, leaped upon
him—or her—screaming.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Conan darted forward, swift for a man so large, and swung the
ancient blue-iron blade. The stroke met flesh, cleaving muscle and bone, toppling a second pikeman into
a fall that would ultimately end in the Gray Lands—and likely Gehanna.

Elashi and the rider fell from the horse. Conan had time to see the mysterious bandit leader leap up and
twist about sharply; the movement spun Elashi away as a terrier tosses a rat. She hit the ground and
rolled up, sword held ready.

No matter. Her distraction had accomplished its purpose. Conan swung his sword back and forth,
chopping at the disorganized pikemen, who were at quarters too close to use their weapons effectively.