"Julian May - Trillium 3 - Sky Trillium" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

"No. It is here. I am quite certain. Turn in."

Grumbling, the Nyssomu bent to his oar. "The jungle round about here is already
flooded and full of drifting debris. There's no sign at all of a channel. I really
think—"

"Be silent!" The Prince took up a stance in the bow. The few stars gave barely
enough light to see by. The water soon became very shallow, with dense thickets
of flag-reeds, lance-weed, and redfern between the towering trees. In the respite
from the downpour, the wild creatures of the Mazy Mire gave voice. Insects
chirped, clicked, buzzed, and made musical chiming sounds. Pelriks hooted,
night-carolers warbled, karu-woks splashed and hissed, and a distant gulbard
uttered its throaty hunting cry.

When Ralabun could no longer use the sculling oar because of the shallowing
water and clogging driftwood, he cried out, "This can't be right, Hiddenheart!"

The boy controlled his exasperation with some effort. "I will guide us while you

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Trillium 03 - Sky Trillium by Julian May (v1.0) (html).html


pole the boat along. Go between those two great wilunda trees. I know the way."

Ralabun grudgingly obeyed, and even though the channel at times seemed
hopelessly blocked with brush and hanging vines, a lead of open water barely as
wide as the boat stayed always ahead of them. The going was very slow, but
after another hour they reached a small area of high ground. Thorn-ferns,
weeping wydels, and towering kalas grew about its rocky perimeter. Tolivar
pointed out a landing spot and Ralabun brought the boat in to shore.

"This is it?" he murmured in surprise. "I could have sworn we were lost.

The Prince leapt onto a bank covered with rain-beaten saw-grass and tied the
bowline to a snag. Then he took up the lantern, opened its shutter, and beckoned
for the Nyssomu to accompany him along a nearly invisible path that twisted
through outcropping rocks and dripping vegetation.

They came to a clearing, where there was a small hut made of hewn poles and
bundled grass, roofed with heavy fodderfern.

"I built it," the Prince said with pride. "It's where I come to study magic."

Ralabun's wide mouth dropped open in amazement, displaying stubby yellow
fangs. "Magic? A lad such as you? By the Triune—you are well named
Hiddenheart!"

Tolivar unfastened the simple wicker door and gave an ironic bow. "Please enter