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

Heimdallr's easygoing manner left Taziar slack-jawed with astonishment. As the god disappeared into
the distance, the Vikings regained their arrogant courage. Bothi opened his mouth, but Taziar waved him
silent until Heimdallr had sauntered well beyond the range of his legendary vision and hearing. In the time
which passed, all surprise abandoned Taziar, leaving him feeling cheated. The anticipation of matching
wits with a god had raised an excitement which could be quenched by nothing less than a noteworthy
achievement.

Bothi sputtered."You stupid little insect! You gave away enough gold to feed a village."

Taziar's blue eyes narrowed.While you stood like a panicked rabbit, too afraid to move or speak . He
kept this thought to himself, still not crazy enough to do battle with four trained warriors. In his thieving
days, the Shadow Climber had donated his stolen proceeds to the needy, the thrill of risking his life and
achieving the impossible his only reward. Bothi's concern for a bagful of money seemed illogical to
Taziar. "A single battle will earn you all twice as much." An idea came to him suddenly, and he whirled to
face the Vikings' glares. "It wasmy money, but if it means so much to you I will happily retrieve it."

"Retrieve it?" Kolbyr shook his head, obviously attributing Taziar's word choice to difficulties with their
language. "You mean replace it."

Taziar circled theBifrostBridge , studying it from every angle. He recalled, from his touch, that the
three-tiered rainbow was unsteady; it quivered in the stronger breezes. Yet his fingers had detected
irregularities in its surface. Some lofty architect had constructed it of blocks of an unknown material,
chunks of light perhaps. And Taziar knew from experience that anything composed of parts would have
cracks between, no matter how careful or divine its crafter. "No," he said slowly. "I willretrieve it. I will
climb the rainbow and return your gold to the last insignificant chip."

Bothi snickered. "And we'll wait and watch while Heimdallr casually tosses your broken corpse from the
bridge."

Hamar explained. "Heimdallr serves as watchman of the gods. It's his job to keep mortals and giants
from Asgard. He fathered the races of men, so he can forgive your touch and, perhaps,even a few steps
onto the bridge. But I doubt Heimdallr will carry the gold all day. To retrieve it, you will have to sneak
past him and into his hall on Asgard. To do that, my friend, you will need to be less than a shadow and
more than a climber."

Kolbyr examined Taziar's face, apparently seeking to determine the seriousness of the smaller man's
boast. "Heimdallr will see and hear you the instant you stand on his bridge."

Taziar smiled, enjoying the Vikings' attention. "Hear me, perhaps. But I believe your precise description
was that Heimdallr sees a hundred leaguesin front of him and as well by night as day. Is that not so?"

"That's what the legends say."

"Then," said Taziar, crossing around and ducking beneath the rainbow until he could see only the lowest,
red band, "I will have to approach from beneath him."He slipped off his boots, sacrificing their warmth
for the necessary gripping power and sensory input his bare toes could provide. Soon, exertion would
make him forget the cold. With practiced skill, he caught handholds in the all but invisible seams of the
structure and swung his feet so his soles rested on the undersurface of theBifrostBridge . The band
shivered slightly. Knowing the movement would summon Heimdallr, Taziar spoke in a rapid whisper.
"Leave now. I'll meet you at the longhouse. For my sake and your own, say nothing to anyone." With that