"Dan Parkinson. The Gates of Thorbardin ("DragonLance Saga Heroes II" #2) (angl)" - читать интересную книгу автора

but half the folks in the village were invisible for several
days afterward." He paused, remembering. "Lot of things
got misplaced about then. Old Ferman Wanderweed
never did find his front door -"
"Will you be quiet?" Chane snapped. "This bird just
talked to us."
"I know that. It said, 'go away.' I told you."
"But birds can't talk!"
"Generally not." Curiously, the kender raised his
forked staff and poked at the bird. It glared at him, first
with one eye and then with the other, and shifted its posi-
tion on the snag. "Go away," it said again.
"Do you suppose that's all it knows how to say?"
Chess wondered aloud. "Just, 'go away'? If I were teach-
ing a bird to talk, I think I'd come up with something bet-
ter than -"
"Go away or keep the Way," the bird said.
"That's much better," Chess nodded.
"What does it mean by that?" Chane glared at the bird,
which glared back with a malicious yellow eye.

"Go away or keep the Way," the bird squawked. "Go
away or keep the Way! Go away or keep the Way!" Hav-
ing had its say then, the bird glared at them one more
time, relieved itself on the snag, spread wide wings, and
launched itself out over the valley.
They watched it shrink to a dot in the distance, then
Chane settled his packs on sturdy shoulders and stepped
to the edge of the cliff again.
"You're still going?" the kender asked.
"Of course I am. Why not?"
"You heard what that bird said."
"I don't take orders from birds. Are you coming?"
"Sure, but I bet there's an easier way down than where
you're heading." Turning away from the sheer ledge, the
small creature started off, down the far slope, angling
away from the ledge.
Chane frowned and called after him, "That isn't the
way the bird went."
Chess glanced back. "So what?"
"The bird said, 'keep the Way.' Maybe we're supposed
to follow it."
"I thought you didn't take orders from birds."
"I don't, but I'm open to suggestions when they lead in
the direction I want to go."
"Well, I'll meet you in the valley, then," Chess said.
"This looks like a nice, easy path around this way. A per-
son could get hurt climbing down that cliff."
"Suit yourself." The dwarf shrugged, eased himself
over the sheer ledge, and found handholds and accept-