"Dennis L. McKiernan - The Silver Call 2 - The Brega Path" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKiernan Dennis L)

About an hour before dawn, the Spaunen patrol returned from the north,
scuttling in haste to be in the Gate before the Sun rose. This time, though,
there were more maggot-folk in the- group. When they scurried near the grove,
Perry was surprised to realize that he could now understand what was being
said: they were no longer using the Sluk but instead were mouthing words hi a
polyglot akin to Pellarion, the Common Tongue of Mithgar, a polyglot often
used by Hloks when they did not want their words to be well understood by
their underlings, the Rucks:
"Gorbash's scummy company brought in a lot of loot tonight," whined one of the
Hloks as they scrambled across the slope. "Maybe Gnar'll be pleased and lay
off the whip."
"Not rat-mouth Gnar," snarled another. "That big pusbag ain't pleased with
nothin' these nights. Ever since them bloody-handed Elves started cuttin' down
his Nibs's minions, he ain't been pleased."
"1 hear there's another whole company missing, overdue by three days—Gushdug's
bunch."
"Blast that rotskull Gushdug! If you ain't lyin' that means stinkthroat
Gnar'll be layin' about with his cat-o'-tails more than ever; I'll ram this
iron bar up his snot if he cracks those thongs my way. It's bad enough he had
me and my bunch guarding this side of that stupid path over the scabby
mountain, when he knows that slime-nose Sloog's gang alone is plenty; and they
can watch from shelter, whereas we can't, bum their gob-covered hides. And
Gnar deliberately left me there in the cold two extra weeks after the snows
closed the way. I'll rip his throat out if he even looks sideways at me."
"You, Crotbone? Ha! You've got a big mouth, maggot brain. I know you: you'll
be groveling in the dirt at his stinkin' feet like the rest of us when we
report in, lickin' his
12
L McKIERriAM
The BREGA PATH
15
boots and calling him *O Mighty One,' and all the time, just like the rest of
us, you'll be wishing you could catch him from behind down in a dark hole
alone, without Goth and Mog watchdogging him, then ..." Perry heard no more,
for they had moved beyond earshot..
As the rising Sun glanced over the horizon, Delk rubbed face blackener on
Perry's cheeks and forehead and directed him to put some on his hands. The
other members of the company were also darkening their hands and faees and
checking each other for light spots. "Remember," Delk warned Perry, "when we
are hiding, do not look directly at a Grg— your eyes will catch the torchlight
and shine at him like two hot coals, and we will be discovered. Look to one
side, or shield your eyes tightly with your hand and look through the cracks
of your fingers; especially keep those jewel-like Utruni eyes of yours
covered, Waeran, for they will glow like sapphires. Also, lest its light give
us away, it would be better to keep Bane sheathed unless there is no other
choice."
Perry nodded and rubbed a bit more of the sooty salve on Delk's exposed cheek.
Satisfied, Perry stepped back and looked around at the others, seeing darkened
faces and smudged hands. "My, what a ragtag bunch," Jie declared. "I'd always
envisioned warriors as being bright and shining, but here we stand, the