"03 - Priest-Kings of Gor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman John)

'Did you have a good trip to the Sardar?' asked Parp.

'Where is my father?' I asked. 'What of the city of Ko-ro-ba?' My voice choked. 'What of the girl Talena, who was my Free Companion?'

'I hope you had a good trip,' said Parp.

Then I began to feel rage creeping like hot, red vines through my blood.

Parp did not seem concerned.

'Not everyone has a good trip,' said Parp.

My hand clenched on the spear.

I began to feel the hatred of all the years I had nursed against the Priest-Kings now uncontrollably, slowly, violently growing in my body, wild, fierce, those foliating scarlet vines of my fury that now seemed to encircle me, to enfold me, to engulf me, swelling, steaming, now writhing aflame about my body and before my eyes in the turbulent, burned air that separated me from the creature Parp and I cried, 'Tell me what I want to know!'

'The primary difficulty besetting the traveler in the Sardar,' continued Parp, 'is probably the general harshness of the environment - for example, the inclemencies of the weather, particularly in the winter.'

I lifted the spear and my eyes which must have been terrible in the apertures of my helmet were fixed on the heart of the man who sat upon the throne.

'Tell me!' I cried.

'The larls also,' Parp went on, 'are a not unformidable obstacle.'

I cried with rage and strode forward to loose my spear but I wept and retained the weapon. I could not do murder.

Parp puffed away, smiling. 'That was wise of you,' he said.

I looked at him sullenly, my rage abated. I felt helpless.

'You could not have injured me, you know,' said Parp.

I looked at him with wonder.

'No,' he said. 'Go ahead, if you wish, cast your spear.'

I took the weapon and tossed it toward the foot of the dais. There was a sudden splintering burst of heat and I fell back, staggering. I shook my head to drive out the scarlet stars that seemed to race before my eyes.

At the foot of the dais there was a bit of soot and some droplets of melted bronze.

'You see,' said Parp, 'it would not have reached me.'

I now understood the purpose of the tiled circle which surrounded the throne.

I removed my helmet and threw my shield to the floor.

'I am your prisoner,' I said.

'Nonsense,' said Parp, 'you are my guest.'