[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
her burning eyes.
He smiled and tapped her on the head. Poor little cat, you ve had a hard
time.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against his hand. I feel horrible. I
almost wish I was dead. Stavver& .
You don t mean that, Leyta.
Stavver&
Page 157
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
What?
I m cursed. You better leave me.
Now, I know you don t mean that. He chuckled. Stop feeling sorry for
yourself. He shook his head and ran his fingers under her eyes, wiping away
the tears. Get the kid. What did you do with him?
Sharli! Aleytys jumped to her feet. Ahai, I forgot Sharl. She ran back up
the trail, shivering as she passed the huddled bodies. Hastily she knelt and
folded back the flaps of the babysling, to find Sharl lying curled up inside,
sucking peacefully on his fist. With a weak laugh that trembled on the dry
side of relief, she ducked her head and slid the strap onto her shoulder,
settling it against her neck. As smoothly as she could, she stood up. The baby
grunted sleepily, wiggled himself comfortably against her hip, and went calmly
back to sleep.
As Aleytys walked back downhill to Stavver, a storm of black bugs whirred
around her, diving at her legs, crawling on the wide leather trousers. She
looked down.
The leather was stained and crusted with patches of blood. With a gulp, she
stuck out a moccasin and examined the soft leather. It was soggy with blood.
Her mouth twitched and her stomach knotted. A good thing I haven t had
anything to eat.
For the next hour she trailed along behind Stavver, the leather of her
high-topped moccasins drying until it was stiff and hard as wood. With her
braised ankle sending twinges up her legs and the boots rubbing blisters on
her heels and toes, she limped painfully out of the ravine and onto a trail
that wound precipitously down the crumbling cliffside, Aleytys halted a minute
and scanned the valley. It was a wild and abstract landscape angular swatches
of gray and coffee-brown rock, curving organic patches of green, the dark
glinting line of the river looping through it all, all crossed and recrossed
by vertical columns of white steam pouring up from scattered fumaroles.
The valley drowsed under a rolling, eddying ceiling of steam. Hesh and Horli
together made a vague reddish blur above the eastern edge, most of their light
filtered out by the cloud layer. The damp heat from below flowed up and
slapped her in the face. She put her hand on Stavver s shoulder and stood
close behind him, looking at the eerie scene. The Bawe Neswet. The ship is
supposed to be somewhere out there. Can you see it?
We re too far away. He cocked his head around and examined her face as she
leaned up against him. Can you keep on for another hour?
If I have to, she said wearily.
We can rest when we get to the river. He pointed, then patted the
saddlebags he carried over his shoulder. Get some food, rest a bit.
Aleytys pushed away from him with a laugh. I ve come halfway around a world,
but I swear this is the longest part.
Stavver nodded as he started cautiously down the narrow path. You ve got a
longer trip than you know waiting for you, Leyta. When we get to the ship. He
edged around a corner. Be careful here, he called back, his voice muffled by
the stone. Goes down fast and the outside is breaking away.
Page 158
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Hai, my friend, I hear you. She looked dubiously at the precarious track.
Well, baby, she muttered, shifting the sling to a better balance. Before we
leap, we have to walk. She started cautiously after Stavver.
An hour later Aleytys collapsed in a heap on the bank of the river. Not one
more step, she said firmly. And Ineed a bath.
Stavver sat down on a large round rock. He wiped a hand across his sweaty
face and grinned at her. You ll wear your skin off one of these days.
Aleytys laughed. After the harrowing in the early morning, this noon under a
roof of steam seemed peaceful and a trifle enervating. She leaned back against
a tree and watched the leaf shadows chase each other across her body. She
sighed and contemplated her feet. The dark stains on the soft leather sent a
shiver through her. Stavver, she called plaintively.
He was looking thoughtfully at the eddying water and didn t seem to hear her.
Stavver!
Hmm? he said absently. What is it?
Help me take my boots off.
He frowned impatiently, then walked over to her. Here, he said. Give me
your foot. He pulled off one boot, forcing a grunt of pain from her. Tossing
it aside, he worked the other free and dumped it on the ground. Running a
finger over her red raw feet, he said thoughtfully, Why don t you stay here
while I hunt for the ship? He massaged her feet until she sighed with
pleasure. Take your bath. Feed the kid. I can move faster alone.
He glanced at the river. You better make it a sponge bath. Tropical rivers
have a habit of nasty surprises. You won t be afraid if I leave you alone?
Aleytys s mouth twisted into a wry grimace. Afraid? It s other things should
be afraid of me.
He laughed. Point to you. By the way, if I find the ship, I ll send the call
out and see what answer I can get. I might be gone a long time.
I understand. Using his arm as a prop, she struggled to her feet. Ahai,
she wailed. I think I m ruined.
He chuckled. Take your bath. Think how much better you ll feel.
She stepped away from him, turned suddenly serious. You be careful,
Stavver.
He shrugged and plunged into the leafy tunnel where the path continued from
the river. Aleytys watched him disappear, then moved back to her howling baby.
She unwrapped him and put him to her breast, where he began sucking eagerly.
Hai, my greedy little singer-son. She rubbed her fingers gently over the
back of his small head, then drifted into a dreamy trance while he filled his
belly. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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her burning eyes.
He smiled and tapped her on the head. Poor little cat, you ve had a hard
time.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against his hand. I feel horrible. I
almost wish I was dead. Stavver& .
You don t mean that, Leyta.
Stavver&
Page 157
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
What?
I m cursed. You better leave me.
Now, I know you don t mean that. He chuckled. Stop feeling sorry for
yourself. He shook his head and ran his fingers under her eyes, wiping away
the tears. Get the kid. What did you do with him?
Sharli! Aleytys jumped to her feet. Ahai, I forgot Sharl. She ran back up
the trail, shivering as she passed the huddled bodies. Hastily she knelt and
folded back the flaps of the babysling, to find Sharl lying curled up inside,
sucking peacefully on his fist. With a weak laugh that trembled on the dry
side of relief, she ducked her head and slid the strap onto her shoulder,
settling it against her neck. As smoothly as she could, she stood up. The baby
grunted sleepily, wiggled himself comfortably against her hip, and went calmly
back to sleep.
As Aleytys walked back downhill to Stavver, a storm of black bugs whirred
around her, diving at her legs, crawling on the wide leather trousers. She
looked down.
The leather was stained and crusted with patches of blood. With a gulp, she
stuck out a moccasin and examined the soft leather. It was soggy with blood.
Her mouth twitched and her stomach knotted. A good thing I haven t had
anything to eat.
For the next hour she trailed along behind Stavver, the leather of her
high-topped moccasins drying until it was stiff and hard as wood. With her
braised ankle sending twinges up her legs and the boots rubbing blisters on
her heels and toes, she limped painfully out of the ravine and onto a trail
that wound precipitously down the crumbling cliffside, Aleytys halted a minute
and scanned the valley. It was a wild and abstract landscape angular swatches
of gray and coffee-brown rock, curving organic patches of green, the dark
glinting line of the river looping through it all, all crossed and recrossed
by vertical columns of white steam pouring up from scattered fumaroles.
The valley drowsed under a rolling, eddying ceiling of steam. Hesh and Horli
together made a vague reddish blur above the eastern edge, most of their light
filtered out by the cloud layer. The damp heat from below flowed up and
slapped her in the face. She put her hand on Stavver s shoulder and stood
close behind him, looking at the eerie scene. The Bawe Neswet. The ship is
supposed to be somewhere out there. Can you see it?
We re too far away. He cocked his head around and examined her face as she
leaned up against him. Can you keep on for another hour?
If I have to, she said wearily.
We can rest when we get to the river. He pointed, then patted the
saddlebags he carried over his shoulder. Get some food, rest a bit.
Aleytys pushed away from him with a laugh. I ve come halfway around a world,
but I swear this is the longest part.
Stavver nodded as he started cautiously down the narrow path. You ve got a
longer trip than you know waiting for you, Leyta. When we get to the ship. He
edged around a corner. Be careful here, he called back, his voice muffled by
the stone. Goes down fast and the outside is breaking away.
Page 158
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Hai, my friend, I hear you. She looked dubiously at the precarious track.
Well, baby, she muttered, shifting the sling to a better balance. Before we
leap, we have to walk. She started cautiously after Stavver.
An hour later Aleytys collapsed in a heap on the bank of the river. Not one
more step, she said firmly. And Ineed a bath.
Stavver sat down on a large round rock. He wiped a hand across his sweaty
face and grinned at her. You ll wear your skin off one of these days.
Aleytys laughed. After the harrowing in the early morning, this noon under a
roof of steam seemed peaceful and a trifle enervating. She leaned back against
a tree and watched the leaf shadows chase each other across her body. She
sighed and contemplated her feet. The dark stains on the soft leather sent a
shiver through her. Stavver, she called plaintively.
He was looking thoughtfully at the eddying water and didn t seem to hear her.
Stavver!
Hmm? he said absently. What is it?
Help me take my boots off.
He frowned impatiently, then walked over to her. Here, he said. Give me
your foot. He pulled off one boot, forcing a grunt of pain from her. Tossing
it aside, he worked the other free and dumped it on the ground. Running a
finger over her red raw feet, he said thoughtfully, Why don t you stay here
while I hunt for the ship? He massaged her feet until she sighed with
pleasure. Take your bath. Feed the kid. I can move faster alone.
He glanced at the river. You better make it a sponge bath. Tropical rivers
have a habit of nasty surprises. You won t be afraid if I leave you alone?
Aleytys s mouth twisted into a wry grimace. Afraid? It s other things should
be afraid of me.
He laughed. Point to you. By the way, if I find the ship, I ll send the call
out and see what answer I can get. I might be gone a long time.
I understand. Using his arm as a prop, she struggled to her feet. Ahai,
she wailed. I think I m ruined.
He chuckled. Take your bath. Think how much better you ll feel.
She stepped away from him, turned suddenly serious. You be careful,
Stavver.
He shrugged and plunged into the leafy tunnel where the path continued from
the river. Aleytys watched him disappear, then moved back to her howling baby.
She unwrapped him and put him to her breast, where he began sucking eagerly.
Hai, my greedy little singer-son. She rubbed her fingers gently over the
back of his small head, then drifted into a dreamy trance while he filled his
belly. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]