"Henry Lion Oldie. Fragments of novels in english translation" - читать интересную книгу автораgo hunting to the forest and his mother lost her left hand and whenever
she become wolf again she'll be lame and won't be able to catch even the most sluggish beasts. Since then Solly hasn't seen his mother smile softly as she use to before hearting about his successes or how the teacher had praised him. It was all gone. The invisible door that kept her smiles was shut forever. Now he could see in his mother's eyes only anguish and bitterness. She didn't weep and didn't say anything but it would be better if she wept or even howled... ...They marched in silence. They didn't glance back. They marched as animals. Some of them took their weapons tied with belts to their backs, others relied only upon their own claws and fangs. About two dozens of Mutables joined them -- the solitary ones who didn't like to use fire and dwelt in holes or any suitable shelters. Solly knew that his native village was the only one in this land. And it did not exist now. Morn had to lead those who survived to some new place. Solly has heared (also from Morn) that their people dwelt somewhere in the East, but nobody of his fellows ever dared to enter those wild lands. People say that there were some settlements over the mountains, at the other side of Ra-Muaz passes... They could have gathered twice as much Mutables but rage was driving them on and didn't allow to wait. Besides, the scouts told that the Killers from the Constants village had been summoned to some muster and those Ninefold-Living who were left home won't resist long. them were the Killers present, but now the wood people had a favourable opportunity. An opportunity blinded by rage... The rain lashed their backs as if the sky urged the avengers on. Pitch-black darkness unlike the Constants... Woe to the murderers! Their nine lives won't do them any good. The Mutables will drag their corpses to the woods and there they'll watch them dying again and again, until the last bracelet will appear on their arms as the sign that their crimes are atoned for. ...It took them few moments to strangle the dogs. And a triumphant howl announced the beginning of the feast. A live wave born in the night rolled out of the forest and overflew the palisade; those who have enough time to transform into human from climbed up the pales scratching their skin in a hurry to open the gate. Solly jumped down and helped Rollo to remove the wooden bar, with an evil smile. A lightning showed the wolfish grin at the youth's face in a short flash. And the thunder answered with a hoarse groan of awe. The gate was flung open and the massacre began. The werwolves didn't spare anybody. Invisible death overtook the Constants everywhere, the blades and knives worked untiringly, dissecting the scared night and soft human flesh... Solly was running past at opened door when a Ninefold-Living jumped out of it. He was almost naked but armed with a sword. At the next moment he sank slowly at the porch of his own home. He had no time to notice |
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