"Karl Edward Wagner - Cold Light" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

mankind! Evil has ruled the lives of men with the consuming
might of merciless force—and mankind has had to bow to its
terror or else be destroyed! But I have sworn to destroy the
servants of evil whatever they hold mankind in thrall! I have time
and again done battle with the forces of evil, and each time I
have triumphed and destroyed with the greater strength of good!
Order has mastered chaos—I have fought evil on its own ground,
and with the superior power of good I have conquered!
Conquered because I have had the courage to confront evil face
to face—because I have turned against evil the very violence
with which it holds mankind under its heel—because I have met
force with force and destroyed brute power with brute power!"
Gaethaa's face was bathed in demonic transfiguration as he
breathed fierce sincerity into his explosive diatribe. His listeners
watched him with the awestricken attention commanded by
saints and madmen, and even here in Demornte none dared to
break into the spell of ferocious fanaticism he spun for them.
Seeming to recollect himself, Gaethaa paused in his harangue
and gestured toward his men. "These are my followers," he
explained hoarsely. "A small army at the moment, but they're
picked fighters and every man a seasoned and fearless warrior!
Many have followed my command through other hard fought
campaigns, and all have endured sufficient hardships and danger
just in winning through to Sebbei to put old sagas to shame! For I
have come to Sebbei with my men to seek out this creature who
calls himself Kane! I am here to deliver your city from Kane!"
Gavein shrugged uneasily, uncertain how all this was going to
involve him and his townspeople, "But Kane does nothing to us
here in Sebbei. He keeps to himself in a villa at the edge of our
city, as I've said. We don't even see him except when he comes
by from time to time to buy provisions. Why don't you take your
quarrel elsewhere?"
Gaethaa was aghast. Stunned by the mayor's indifference, he
turned to Alidore to see if madness had claimed all present.
Alidore cleared his threat and suggested in Kamathaen, "It may
well be, milord, that we underestimated the parochial isolation of
these people. Incredible as it seems, I don't think they have any
idea who Kane might be. Why else would they have permitted
him to remain in their city?"
Once more assured, the Avenger addressed his nervous
audience. "Obviously then you people don't realize what manner
of fiend is living here in your city! It seems incredible in view of
his dark history that he hasn't already turned on you—Tloluvin
only knows what demonic scheme he has in mind for you and
your land! I've pitted myself against some utterly ruthless black
hearted monsters in human guise in the past, but this Kane could
be the most evil man ever to walk the earth! His crimes are so
numerous, so colossal in infamy that most people believe Kane
nothing more than wild legend! I once thought him legendary
myself until in my far searching crusade against the forces of evil,