"Stephen Lawhead - Pendragon Cycle 05 - Grail" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

found a spring,' he said, his voice husky and strange. Perhaps it was
merely fatigue, but I have seen terror often enough to recognize its many
guises, and I thought Rhys wore it now.
'A spring, yes,' I said, searching the steward's face for a sign. 'Good. Well
done. Is it far?'
He took my arm, wheeled me around, and started walking me away. When
we were out of hearing of the men, he said, 'No, not far. The spring is not
large, but it supplies a pool. We can get water there.' He paused,
hesitating, uncertain how to proceed.
'Rhys?'
There is something queer...'
'About the spring?'
'Yes.'
'You said it was not far -'
'Indeed, it is just beyond the hill.' He lifted a hand, but the gesture died and
he lapsed again into a hesitant silence.
'Well?' I demanded, growing impatient with his reticence. 'Speak, man.'
His reply was swift and harsh. 'I do not like it! Something queer is out
there.' He glowered at me.
'Calm yourself,' I said soothingly. 'Come to the tent. Sit down. You have
not eaten anything all day. You must be starving. Come, Rhys.'
I led him to the tent and sat him in Arthur's chair, then roused one of the
younger men who served the Dragon Flight. 'Wake you, Baram,' I said.
'Rhys has returned. Fetch food and water.'
Rhys sat slumped in the camp chair, his head bent forward, resting in his
hands. I had never seen him so. 'Food is coming,' I said, dragging up a
stool. Thinking to distract him from his thoughts, I began telling him about
our talk with Mercia and Hergest. In a little while, Baram appeared with
the food; I dismissed him to his rest once more, and served Rhys myself.
When he finished eating, he seemed in better spirits, so I said, 'Now, then,
tell me about this strange pool you have found.'
Rhys nodded, took a long draught of water, swallowed slowly, and then
began. 'We came upon it before sundown. It is no great distance from
here, and we discovered it soon after we began. There is a rocky outcrop
on the hillside, and a beech grove below. The leaves on the trees looked
fresh - not wilted like all the rest - so we rode to the place for a closer
look. The grove hides a cleft in the rocks - pass through it and you come to
the pool.'
Rhys' voice trailed off, as if he were revisiting a painful memory of long
ago. His dark eyes were downcast and he clutched the empty water jar
tightly.
'A cool place to escape the sun,' I observed, encouraging him to continue.
'It must have been a welcome find.'
He glanced at me and then away again quickly. 'We entered the grove and
rode to the pool,' he said after a moment. 'I dismounted and heard a
sound... singing - it sounded like someone singing, but though the grove
and pool are small, I could not see anyone.' He fell silent again.
'Hiding in the rocks, perhaps,' I remarked.
He paid me no heed, but sat hunched forward, his jaw bulging as he
clenched his teeth.