"Andre Norton - Operation timesearch" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

wings set in a center ridge. A sword swung at his belt. Taller
than the hunters, less swarthy of skin, he seemed of a
different caste. But the same emotionless mask covered his
features.

After a long survey he barked an order, and one of the
hunters came to slit the bonds about Ray's wrists and pull
the American to his feet. The officer asked questions and the
hunter replied, with a pantomime, as well as words,
explaining the capture. When he had done, the officer
proceeded to interrogate his prisoner by gestures-a wide
sweep of hand to the west and then one word:

Mu.

Ray shook his head. And the officer seemed disturbed at his
reply. He frowned and pointed east with another question



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Ray did not hear very well. Suddenly the American
understood-they wanted to know where he came from; that
must be it.

He pointed back to where that grim forest must stand. For
any more than that, they knew as much as he did about it.
He was unprepared for their reaction to his answer.

The officer's eyes narrowed as might a cat's. His


thick lips drew apart in a snarl, displaying purplish
gums and yellow teeth. Then he exploded in a cackle of
derisive laughter, his disbelief very plain.
Rounding on his followers, the officer made another
of the hunters repeat the story of Ray's capture. It was
given as before. Then the hunter pointed to Ray's bare
head, to his wind-ruffled short brown hair, and reached
out a hand still unwashed after the elk butchery to tug
at the leather jacket their prisoner wore, directing the
officer's attention to it. He promptly signed for Ray to
take it off: The hunter rifled its pockets, producing a
handkerchief, a notebook, and a spare film pack.
In a few minutes the prisoner stood shivering in the
wind, his clothing all spread out on the sand. But his
captors still searched the pockets as if they were con-
vinced he must carry some important object. One of the