"Rebecca Neason - Highlander - The Path" - читать интересную книгу автора (Neason Rebecca)

recognizing another He knew it now the same way he had known it two
hundred years before when the eighth Dalai Lama, whose spat he carried,
had first met Duncan MacLeod.

Once more, the holy man raised Ins eyes slightly, looking out through
the tops of his glasses over the crowd. So many people. He could feel
their collective goodwill, and from some their doubts, swirling around
hun like warm and hymg brewh.

Over them all, the presence of MacLeod shone like a beacon dmugh the
fog.

As their eyes met, the Dalai Lama gave a small, internal nod.

You have growr4 the Tibetan leader thought, but there is still much
unfinished between us. Do you feel it, too, Duncan MacLeod?

After so long a time, how much of Tibet do you remember?

Duncan tried to keep his mind on each of the speakers. As interesting
as they were, MacL&W's attention continually drifted back to the Dalai
Lama. Often he found his gaze returned. But there was no expression,
however small, that revealed the religious leader's emotion. Each time
their eyes met, the Dalai Lama would bow his head again, leaving Duncan
to wonder what he read in those dark eyes, what, if any, signal he was
receiving.

At last the Dalai Lama came to the microphone. In spite of his heavy
accent and quiet voice, he proved to be a consummate speaker. Like the
predecessor MacLeod had known, this Dalai Lama had the gift of drawing
his listeners in and making each one of them feel an important part of
the whole, as if their personal involvement was the key to ultimate
success. It was a gift modern politicians should envy.
Peace through Compassion was the Dalai Lama's theme and, for Duncan,
listening to him was like going back in time.

These were the same words, just a different voice speaking them, and
despite the accented English coming out of the microphone, the slightly
uncomfortable seats, and the modern surroundings, MacLeod had only to
close his eyes halfway for the man on the stage to transform into the
Dalai Lama Duncan had known so well.

A touch on his arm brought Duncan's thoughts back to the present.
Standing beside him was one of the stadium's security guards. The sight
made his stomach tighten; he was certain he would be asked to leave.

At least he knew now what expression he had read on the Dalai Lama's
face. The friendship they had once known was indeed to remain buried in
the past. There would be no healing of misunderstandings, no regrets
laid to rest.