"George R. R. Martin - In the House of the Worm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

of the grouns. We will learn all his secrets, all the knowledge that he boasts of. We will see why he
comes back and back again, always with meat, while other groun hunters vanish. Then we will kill him."

"You didn't say that,― Riess objected, openmouthed.

"We've already come too far from the windows,― Vermyllar said, and started to go on.

Annelyn laughed lightly. “Child,― he said to Riess. “I came this far when I was half your age.
This was where I killed my groun.― He pointed to the stairway. “He came out of there, scrabbling
on four of his legs, not the least afraid of my fire, and I met him with only my torch."

Vermyllar and Riess were both looking at the dark portal of the stairway. “Oh,― said Riess.

"Really?― said another voice, from behind. Vermyllar dropped his torch, and pulled out his dagger. All
three of them whirled.

On the edge of the light, a huge, red-bearded man dressed in black stood staring at them, a bronze ax on
his shoulder. Without his armor, Annelyn hardly recognized him, but suddenly the memory came.

"Groff,― he said.

The bronze knight nodded. “I have followed you all down the Undertunnel. You are very noisy."

They said nothing. Vermyllar picked up his fallen torch.

"So you mean to kill the Meatbringer?― Groff said.

"Yes,― Annelyn said. “Do not interfere, Groff. I know the Meatbringer provides much grounmeat
for the yaga-la-hai, but we shall do that too when we learn his secrets. The Manworm has no cause to
take his side.― His mouth was set stubbornly.

Groff chuckled, deep in his throat, and hefted his heavy ax. “Don't fret, little worm-child. You shall
have your carrion. I too was sent to kill the Meatbringer."

"What?― Riess said.

"Did the Manworm order it?― Vermyllar asked eagerly.

"The Manworm thinks of nothing but his coming unity with the White Worm,― Groff said. He smiled.
“And of pain, perhaps. Perhaps he thinks of that. No, his advisers ordered it. The Meatbringer has
too many mysteries about him. He is not truly of the yaga-la-hai, the advisers think, and he is not
tranquil. He is ugly and disturbs things, and he lies. Moreover, since we first grew aware of the
Meatbringer, two years ago, fewer and fewer groun hunters have returned from below, save him alone.
Well, I have hunted grouns, once. I may not have been as deep as the Meatbringer, who says he has
descended to where the bronze knights warred against the grouns a million years ago. I have not been
that far, but I have run the groun-runs, and I am not frightened of dark burrows.― He looked at
Annelyn. “Did you truly meet a groun here?"

Annelyn felt the steady gaze of Groff's eyes, beneath their thick red brows. “Yes,― he said, a little
too quickly, afraid that somehow Groff knew the truth. The groun had been lying at the top of the stairs,