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

natural trap. Yet one part of my mind wondered why the trap was not sprung. The
enemy were throwing away an advantage they might not find so easily again.

“Why?”
I saw Ethutur’s lips fold tight and then he answered my unfinished question:

“Those who watch have not the strength to pull us down. But the Rus fly for
reinforcements. If we can reach the open plain—”

We did that, coming to where the grass rippled grain-ripe and tall. But the plains
were not empty. I saw those who gathered to dispute our passage. Some were old
enemies I had fronted before. There were those unholy mixtures of men and beast who
raised brindled, wolfish muzzles to catch our scent and had pricked ears to hear. About
them the grass moved and I thought of the Rasti which could be in hiding there. Ethutur
cracked his force whip, and the fire of its strike upon the earth was a flash bright enough
to be seen even in the sunlight, leaving smoldering stubble behind.
I longed for the dart gun which had been mine over-mountain. We had brought such
weapons with us in flight, but long since their ammunition had been spent, which left
them useless tubes. Now I had to wait until the enemy was sword-length for fighting.

The Gray Ones and their unseen allies—if the rippling covered the movements of the
Rasti—did not attack. They had a deep respect for the force lash. But they circled about
as at a distance. Their circle now lay between us to the entrance of the HaHarc road.

“They must not thrice-ring us!” Ethutur cried. Again my studies at Lormt came to
my aid. If the enemy could put that running circle about us and hold it for a thrice running
of all who made it a barrier, then they could put a will-lock on us—even though they did
not venture to attack openly the prisoners within it.

Shapurn and Shil ran. Again, as I settled my body to the rise and fall of those mighty
muscles under me, I thought that no horse of Estcarp could match these. At the same
time, though I am not learned in the Mysteries, I shouted aloud certain words from very
ancient texts.
And as I did so, I was startled and almost stricken dumb. For—this I swear, though a
man who has not seen such may disbelieve me—I saw those words as well as heard them!
They were flaming fire arrows and they went before, as darts might have been shot from
that weapon I no longer had. I will swear again that I saw them strike the ground where
the Gray Ones ran and that light burst upon impact, even as the fire which came from
Ethutur’s lash.
There was sound, too; more than the mouthing I made, claps loud and clear. Then I
heard a shrill, high screeching overhead as Ethutur called out something I did not
understand. His head went back as one who searches danger in the sky. Then his lash
curled up and that shrill, ear-tormenting screeching was cut in mid-note. From the sky
fell something which struck the ground before us, and exploded in a puff of dark smoke
which choked us with its foulness as, a moment later, Shapurn and Shil, unable to avoid it,
rushed on through.

But of any body which might lie there, I saw no sign. Only the smoke and smell
before we burst into the clean air.
 Now I heard the howling of the Gray Ones and a squealing from the grass, which,