"Andre Norton - Witch World - Warlock of the Witch World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

advanced until it touched a lake.

In spite of the sun over our heads a mist hovered over that lake. I thought I could
see what might be islands, yet there was a wavering which was bewildering to the mind
and made me uneasy. I remembered the Tor Fen of Estcarp in which dwelt that strange
race which had held my father captive during the Kolder War. That, too, was a place of
like mystery, and none ventured therein without the permission of its people . . . though
that was seldom gotten.
The Renthan brought us to the edge of this bog. Ethutur slid from Shapurn’s back
and I also dismounted. The Green war-leader steadied the warn-sword across his left
arm and raised his right hand to his mouth. Making a hollow trumpet of its flesh and
bones he sent forth a call which rose and fell, then rose again with an inquiry in the sound.

We waited. I saw naught save the passing of large water insects which either flew
above the reeds or ran across the surface of the pools, as if the water under their feet was
solid. There were no birds, nor even the tracks of any animal in the mud, which was
long-dried and crumbling into a thick yellow dust about our boots.

Three times Ethutur called; each time we waited for an answer which did not come.
Just as a shade of frown had earlier crossed his face, so did I now detect impatience there.
But if he inwardly seethed at this delay, he gave no other sign of it.
Neither did he retreat from there. I began to wonder how long we would continue to
stand, awaiting the capricious pleasure of what dwellers did make this swamp-lake their
home.

It was not a sound which alerted me to their coming after his third summons, rather
a troubling or stirring of the air. I have felt a similar thing at times with my mother and
Kaththea. It is as if a creature with great confidence moves to some purpose. Now I
glanced at Ethutur, content to take my cue from him. There was power here.
My companion held up the warn-sword to face the strip of bog and the lake it
guarded. In the sun the red and green cords were brilliant, so dazzling they might have
been woven of molten jewels. He did not call again, but only stood, holding out his
credentials as envoy.

Beyond, where still living reeds curtained the edge of the lake, was movement which
came from no passing wind. Out of the water arose, to stand knee deep in the flood, two
figures.

As they came to us, moving swiftly and with ease through mud, pool, and reed
thicket, I saw that they were man-like. They possessed legs and feet, save that those feet
were webbed and wedge-form in shape. Their arms and hands were a match for my own,
but the skin covering the flesh and firm bones was pallid under the sun and glistened
when the light struck it.
Their heads were very human, too. But their hair was short and sleeked tight to their
skulls and it was only a shade or two darker than their skin. On either side of their throats
were circular spots which marked gills, now closed in the air.

They wore scanty waistcloths made of a scaled substance rippling with jeweled
coloring. To the belts, which held those, were attached large shells which appeared to
serve as pouches. In their web-fingered hands were staffs. Half the length was green and