"Brian Lumley - Dreamlands 1 - Hero Of Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lumley Brian)

"I wouldn't know," Hero answered. 'This is the first time I've come across them—I'm happy to say!"
He touched a severed head with his fur-booted foot and turned it until starlight fell onto the
faceted eyes, then grimaced at the way the thing seemed to stare at him even in death.

Then, headless as it was, one of the carcasses began to twitch and the hard carapace rattled on
the rocks. Both men stepped back from the dead things and shivered—and not alone from the chill of
the night air. Finally they turned more fully to one another and clasped hands in the manner of
dreamland.

"In the village where I sometimes lodge, I'm known as Eldin," the dark-jacketed man told Hero.
"Since Eldin is the old word for 'wanderer,' it suits me well enough. Of course, I've another name
in the waking world ... at least, I think I have. And how are you called?"

"My name's Hero, David Hero. I haven't earned myself a dream-name yet, though I'm pretty well-
traveled in the better known places."

"No dream-name, eh, David?" Eldin grinned and nodded as if he knew something special. "Just a
fellow trav-

HERO OF DREAMS

7

eler from the waking world, eh? Well, there seem to be damn few of us about these days. And what
brings you here?"

"I could ask the same of you," Hero answered, casting nervously about. "And I would if I didn't
think this a funny sort of spot to be spending our time in idle chatter. Is there no place we can
make ourselves at ease for the night?"

"I was making for a cave back there in the shadows when these damned things set on me," Eldin
said. "I've a flint in my pocket and the makings in my pack, and we should be able to pick up a
few dry sticks for a fire. What would you say to a cup of tea?" Hero caught a flash of grinning


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teeth in the darkness.

"I'd say that was a very kind offer," he answered. "Lead on, Eldin, and we'll pick up some sticks
as we go."

"Now then," said Eldin when they sat on flat stones in a dry and sheltered cave and sipped their
tea out of tiny silver cups, "you were going to tell me what you're doing here, on these unbeaten
paths so far away from dreamland's towns and cities."

Hero shrugged. "I go where dreams take me. This time they brought me here."