"Mickey Zucker Reichert - Bifrost 03 - Dragonrank Master" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reichert Mickey Zucker)

"Heimdallr," Hamar echoed. He took a shuddering backstep.

Even Bothi, who would as soon kill a man as acknowledge his presence, remained frozen, his features
twisted in alarm."The Guardian of the Bifrost."

Taziar had seen a similar expression only once, on the face of an acolyte to Aga'arin before the insane,
young priest swore he had looked upon his god.Superstitious awe. Taziar snorted. Cullinsberg's temples
existed only to wring money from the pious to fill the coffers for their self-indulgent clergy.What is it about
man's nature which forces him to invent gods? And what is it about the gods he invents which makes him
panic in their presence ? Taziar had asked himself the question too many times to ponder its significance
now. He nudged Kolbyr. "If you fear him, why don't you run now, before he reaches us?"

Kolbyr's fingernails gouged Taziar's flesh. His terror seemed tangible. "No good," he panted. "Heimdallr
sees a hundred leagues in front of him and as well by night as day. He knows who we are."

Torben finished the description in the routine monotone of a well-versed holy man. "He can hear grass
growing and the wool on sheep and everything that makes more noise."

Heimdallr's muscled form drew closer.

Painfully, Taziar pulled free of Kolbyr's death grip. He waved his companions silent in the unlikely event
they were correct about Heimdallr's acutely developed senses. Taziar had never found a reason to
believe in gods, but until he crossed the sea toScandinavia 's strange lands, he had never accepted the
existence of sorcerers, pirates, or rainbow bridges either.

Heimdallr's descent seemed to span an eternity. The Vikings stood in quiet awe. And as Heimdallr finally
reached the edge of theBifrostBridge , Taziar realized the man/god's size had created the illusion of
closeness and it explained why his approach appeared to take so long. Heimdallr towered over even the
largest Viking. Gold-red curls swarmed his scalp and chin framing angry, gray eyes, a straight nose, and
ruddy cheeks. A chain about his neck held an ornately-crafted horn.

Taziar read power and strength in every line of Heimdallr's frame. He steppedforward, aware his
atheistic perspective would put him in the best position to bargain.

"What is it you wish?" As Heimdallr spoke, he flashed teeth of glowing gold.

Doubt suffused Taziar. Surely no normal man would guard a rainbow nor have a mouthful of sculpted
metal. Taziar questioned his own concern.And what difference if he is a god ? He recalled the huge
chunks of time priests spent in prayer, glorifying deities with flowery words.A man who believes himself
divine will fall easy victim to praise . He adopted his most humble expression. "Lord Heimdallr, forgive
me. I am a stranger to this country. Yet tales of your greatness have spread even across theKattegat to
my people. I begged my new friends to bring me to this spot. Ignorant of the consequences, I leaned
against the Bifrost. Please accept my sincere apologies and this offering to your magnificence. I assure
you I shall not repeat the accident." He knelt as if before royalty, pulled the pouch of coins from his belt,
and offered it to Heimdallr.

Amusement colored the white god's features. He took the sack in one beefy hand and, without
examining its contents, secured it to his own wide sash. "Thank you, little man, for your dramatic
performance and your money." Turning on one booted heel, he tramped back up theBifrostBridge .