"Tad Williams - Tailchaser' s Song" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Tad)

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For I will consider my cat ...
For at the first glance of the glory of God
in the East he worships in his way. For this is done by wreathing his body seven
times around with elegant quickness . . . For having done duty and received blessing
he begins to consider himself. For this he performs in ten degrees. For first he looks upon his
fore-paws to see
if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there. For thirdly he works it upon the stretch with
the fore-paws extended For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood. For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash. For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may
not be interrupted on the beat. For eighthly he rubs himself against a post. For ninthly he looks
up for his instructions. For tenthiy he goes in quest of food . . . For when his day's work is
done his business
more properly begins. For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night
against the adversary. For he counteracts the powers of darkness by
his electrical skin and glaring eyes. For he counteracts the Devil, who is death,
by brisking about the life. For in his morning orisons he loves the sun
and the sun loves him. For he is of the tribe of Tiger. For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel
Tiger. . . For there is nothing sweeter than his peace
when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life
when in motion . . . For God has blessed him in the variety of
his movements. . .
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music. . .
—Christopher Smart
[INTRODUCTION
In the Hour before time began, Meerclar Allmother came out of the darkness to the cold earth. She
was black, and as furry as all the world come together to be fur. Meerclar banished the eternal
night, and brought forth the Two.
Harar Goldeneye had eyes as hot and bright as the sun at the Hour of Smaller Shadows; he was the
color of daytime, and courage, and dancing.
Fela Skydancer, his mate, was beautiful, like freedom, and clouds, and the song of travelers
returned.
Goldeneye and Skydancer bore many children and raised them in the forest that covered the world at
the beginnings of the Elder Days. Climbfast, Wolf-friend, Treesinger, and Brightnail, their young,
were nrong of tooth, sharp of eye, light of foot and straight and brave to their tail-ends.
But most strange and beautiful of all the countless children of Harar and Fela were the three
Firstborn.
The eldest of the Firstborn was Viror Whitewind; he was the color of sunlight on snow, and of
swiftness. . . .
The middle child was Grizraz Hearteater, as gray o shadows and full of strangeness. . . .
Third-born was Tangaloor Firefoot. He was as uack as Meerclar Allmother, but his paws were red iKc
flame. He walked alone, and sang to himself.
There was rivalry among the Firstborn brothers. Whitewind was as fast and strong as a cat could
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dream of being—none could overmatch him at jumping and running. Firefoot was as clever as time; he