"Eric van Lustbader - Sunset Warrior 1 - The Sunset Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lustbader Eric van)

unthinking, desire-
less, receding from and approaching their human counterparts disconcertingly.
At length they reached the proper Level and emerged into a Corridor identical
to the one they had
quit above, save that here the walls were painted a drab green. They waited
while the daggam
snuffed the torch and placed it in the niche in this landing.
There was more activity on this Level. Men and women passed them going in
either direction and
the low hum of distant conversations filled the air like a tidal wash. Perhaps
two hundred metres
from where they emerged, they came upon a door painted dark green. All the
others they had seen
on this Level were the same colour as the walls. Before the door stood two
daggam.
A brief, muffled exchange passed between the four daggam. The shorter of the
pair guarding
the door nodded curtly, turned, and rapped a peculiar pattern on the door. It
was opened by
another daggam, and the messengers and Stahlig stepped through. Ronin moved to
join them
but was stopped short by the palm of one of the guards pressed against his
chest. The
daggam's jaw jutted. 'Where you goin'?' His voice managed to sound bored and
contemptuous
at the same time.
'I am with the Medicine Man.' Ronin met his eyes with a steady gaze. He saw a
round, jowly
face too large for the small, fat nose and close-set eyes the colour of mud.
But, thought Ronin,
an efficient machine that will respond instantly and unfailingly to orders. I
have seen so many.
The square mouth with its thick red lips opened like a reluctant gate. 'Don't
know anything
'bout it. Move along 'fore you get into trouble.'
Ronin felt the pressure from the other's hand and stood his ground. Surprise
showed briefly
in the daggam's eyes: he was used to a certain response to the application of
his power. He
recognized fear in others easily, loved creating it, seeing it burn before him
as if it were a
sacrifice. He saw no fear now, and this disturbed him. Anger flared within
him, and his fingers
plucked at the top dagger strapped across his chest.
Ronin's hand was on the hilt of his sword when a face appeared from around the
still partially
open door. 'Stahlig, you absentminded - '
The Medicine Man's eyes widened. 'Ronin. Wondered where you were. Come along
in.'
Ronin stepped forward but the daggam still barred his way. The daggam, anger