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

started to salute with his other hand, but decided it would look
foolish. "Looks like we've rounded together everyone still alive
inside. Not too pretty—the Red Three must have ordered all
captives slaughtered when it was obvious that we were about to
break through the wall. So that leaves us with maybe twenty
survivors that we're holding for your orders—the last of their
soldiers and servants."
 "Kill them."
Alidore paused, reluctant to dispute his leader. "Milord, most
of them swear they were forced to serve the ogres. They either
obeyed their commands or were eaten like the others."
A cold note crept into Gaethaa's voice and his face was hard.
"Most are probably lying. The others deserve worse, for they
stooped to save their own lives by becoming tools for the
enslavement and destruction of their fellow men. No, Alidore,
mercy is commendable to be sure, but when you seek to destroy
an absolute evil, you must destroy it absolutely. Show mercy in
expunging a blight, and you only leave seeds to spread it anew.
Kill them all."
Alidore turned to give the order, but Mollyl had been listening
and was already loping across the court to see it carried out. He
would enjoy that, Alidore thought in distaste, then dismissed the
Pellinite from his thoughts. He addressed Gaethaa sincerely.
"Milord, you have done a really magnificent thing here today!
For years this land has lived in abject terror of the Red Three.
Most of the countryside has been stripped bare by them, and no
one can say how many captives have ended their lives as food on
the ogres' table! With their death the area can return to life once
more—its people can farm the lands and sell their wares in peace,
and travellers can enter the valleys and pass without danger. And
here—as before when I have followed you on your
missions—you will accept nothing from the people but their
gratitude!"
Gaethaa smiled tiredly and waved him to silence. "Please,
Alidore! Save eulogies for my death. I can't bear them now.
Many have died to help me in my crusade, otherwise I could
have done nothing. They are the ones who deserve your praise.
"No," and his voice was dreamy, "my only desire is to destroy
these agents of evil. It is my goal in life, and I ask nothing in
return."
Admiration glowed on Alidore's battle-weary face. "And now
that the Red Three are destroyed, what is to be our next
mission?"
Gaethaa's voice was inspired. "As my next mission I will seek
out and destroy one of the most dangerous agents of evil that
history or legend knows. Tomorrow I will ride out for the death
of a man called Kane!"