Archiwum
- Index
- Alan Burt Akers [Dray Prescot 07] Arena of Antares (pdf)
- Alan Burt Akers [Dray Prescot 21] A Fortune for Kregen (pdf)
- James Alan Gardner [League Of Peoples 02] Commitment Hour
- James Alan Gardner [League Of Peoples 07] Radiant
- Alan Dean Foster The Damned 03 The Spoils of War (v1.0) (Undead)
- Alan Dean Foster The End of the Matter
- Alan Dean Foster The Metrognome And Other Stories
- Foster, Alan Dean The Black Hole
- Alan Dean Foster Humanx 2 Cachalot
- Golding William Trylogia morska 02 Twarzć… w twarz
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- lafemka.pev.pl
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That was all. Then the other Brothers-not servants, but members of the society acting in that capacity
tonight-began to pass around the plates of meat, vegetables, and baked foods.
Ethan tried several dishes, found them bland but filling.
Hunnar and the two squires fidgeted ,noticeably at this polite departure from normal table manners. They
were not used to eating in a restrained manner. Here, the "he who gets there firstest gets the bestest"
theorem did not apply. They managed to keep from attacking the table and allowed them-selves to be
served like all the others.
For a while, then, no one did anything but eat. The mem-bers of the Brotherhood seemed willing to
permit matters to continue that way.
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But gradually, as stomachs were filled, thoughts other than of consumption occupied the minds of those
seated around the table and they began to ask questions.
With Hunnar doing most of the talking, they explained to their attentive hosts how they fought and
defeated the Horde, how they came to build the great ice clipper, and their sub-sequent use of a herd of
thunder-eaters to destroy the re-mainder of the Horde.
When it came to the origin of the humans, Ethan thought a few of the Brothers looked more than just
casually inter-ested. One was unabashedly fascinated by the bowdlerized version of their initial landing
and first contacts with Hunnar's folk.
September chipped in with occasional comments and cor-rections. The du Kanes continued to eat and
listen in silence. And the two wizards were off in their own private world, oblivious to human and tran
alike.
"An amazing account," commented the Prior finally, with becoming control. "And one that should be set
down for the records ... even though some of it taxes the credulity. Alas, you maintain you have not the
tune."
"I'm afraid not," said September, not at all contrite. "We ought to and will be on our way again as soon
as repairs on the raft are completed."
"What a shame," the Prior added. He sipped easily of a mild brew from his large earthen mug. "Twould
make a fine subject for a poem, would it not, Brother Hodjay?"
"Truly it would," sighed Hodjay. "A pity existence is so brief. You are quite positive you cannot stay?"
He looked at Ethan.
"I'm sorry, we really can't. We should take advantage of the good weather, too."
The Prior picked at something that looked like a baked pudding with his knife.
"How far have you still to travel?"
"Fifty or sixty satch," said Hunnar. He added conversation-ally, "But first we have to reach the
Place-Where-'The-Earth's--Blood-Burns."
There was a crash.
"I ... my clumsiness shames me," said one of the Broth-ers. He pushed back his chair and knelt to help
one of the servers gather up the shards of broken mug.
"Alas, Brother Podren's development has gone wholly to the brain," chuckled the Prior easily. The other
Brothers made the tran laugh-equivalent. To Ethan it seemed a little forced.
The Prior continued as though nothing had happened.
"Do not be surprised at Brother Podren's reaction. Not many folk travel to the
Place-Where-The-Earth's-Blood-Burns."
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"Why not?" asked September a little sharply, and then Ethan knew he wasn't alone in detecting their
hosts' reactions.
The Prior spread his arms, opened his paws. "Superstition. The common folk say strange things about
the great smoking mountain."
"It is a volcano, then," muttered Ethan to himself. They'd assumed as much all along, but it was nice to
have additional confirmation.
"Could you elaborate, Prior?" September pressed.
"Surely. Those who pass too close are said to have their minds affected. Some report seeing odd
visions, while others see nothing at all and remain untouched. Others, they say, are drawn toward the
mountain as a starring being may be drawn to food. Again, their companions may experience nothing.
There is no soil and little grows there. None would live there anyway."
"Superstition is all that keeps them away?" asked Ethan.
"That, and the fact that the mountain throws out melted earth and choking black dust very often."
"Oh."
"But you've been there," said September shrewdly.
The old tran nodded. "I have been close by the place," he conceded. "I did not set foot on the ground."
"Because of the superstitions?" September toyed with his pseudo-pudding.
"No. Because at the time it was throwing out melted stone in huge quantities and the heat was appalling.
The danger was real and not imaginary. My spirit was quite safe, but there was a real danger to the body.
So the ship I was on did not linger in the area. Hopefully, you will have better luck."
"We expect to," September replied.
"And now, tell me once more of your miraculous sky-boat and its unfathomable mechanisms. I did not
understand the first time and probably will not this time either, but there is merit in trying."
Dinner ended with a pleasant little liqueur. Conversation continued for another hour or so. Then Colette
yawned widely, and Budjir confessed that he had to rise early on the morrow to help oversee the setting
of the new bowsprit. So the' Prior declared the gathering at an end.
The group of visiting humans and trap were guided back to their communal sleeping room. Ethan walked
next to Septem-ber.
"What do you think of our hosts?" said the big man.
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