"Michener, James - The Covenant (uc) (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Michener James A)

himself from the herd, now lost its protection, and the lionesses,
obedient to plan, cut him off from the others. There was a wild
chase, a leap onto the rear quarters of the zebra, a piteous scream,
a raking claw across the windpipe. The handsome animal rolled in
the dust, the lions holding fast.
Gumsto, watching every movement in the attack, muttered,
'That's what happens when you leave the clan.'
He remained immobile as seven other lions moved in to share
the kill, attended by a score of hyenas who would wait for
the bones, which they would crush with their enormous jaws
to salvage the marrow. Aloft, a flight of vultures gathered for

their share when the others were gone, and as these predators an
scavengers went about their business, Gumsto proceeded wit
his.
His immediate responsibility was to feed his clan, and this d
he would mount an attack on that rhinoceros, kill it or be killed b
it, then gorge his people with one gigantic meal and move the
off to some better site. As he reached these basic decisions, h
small brown face was wreathed in a contented smile, for he was a
optimist. There will be a better location.
Leaving the dying lake, he went to the living area of his clan
which consisted of absolutely nothing except a halting pI
beneath low trees. The terrain of each family was outlined b
sticks and a few piled rocks, but there were no huts, no walls, n
lean-tos, no paths, no shelter except grass rudely thrown across
framework of interlocked saplings. And each family's area con
tained only enough space for members to lie in hollows scoope
out for their hips. The few possessions had been meticulousl
selected during centuries of wandering and were essential an
tenderly prized: loincloths and skin cloaks for all, bows an
arrows for the men, body powders and small adornments for th
women.
Gumsto's family kept its shelter at the base of a tree, and whe
he had taken his position with his back against the trunk, h
announced firmly, 'Antelope are leaving. Water too foul t






drink. We must leave.'
Instantly old Kharu leaped to her feet and started stridin
about the small area, and since each of the other stick-lined hab
tations was close, everyone could hear her grumbling protests
'We need more ostrich eggs. We dare not leave before Gao ha
killed his antelope.' On and on she ranted, a haro you know why? Because every decent and
sensible man and woman in this nation knows that changes will
have to be made - The Afrikaners who, pass these horrible laws are