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[ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html get out and pull or push the wagon where there was an absence of wind, Simna had begun to relax. It was a state of being that Hunkapa Aub never exited and Ahlitah pursued with feline determination. Of the four travelers, only Ehomba remained on perpetual alert. This situation the swordsman was content to live with. Lying against the back of the wagon, hands behind his head, he looked up contentedly as his lanky friend adjusted the single sail. Today s breeze was not strong, but it blew steadily from the east, driving them through the narrow canyon they were currently traversing. The people of this coast are really missing something by restricting their settlements to the flatlands east of these mountains. He waved a casual hand at the enclosing forested slopes. This is wonderful country. Clean, bracing air, lots of small game, no dangerous predators that we ve encountered, fertile soil, and some of the best timber I ve ever seen. There are trees in here old and strong and big enough to supply lumber for a hundred thousand homes and ten thousand ships the size of theGrömsketter. Intent as ever, Ehomba was watching the forest slide past on either side of the track. Tugging on a line, he trimmed the wagon s single sail slightly. It may be that this Brotherhood would object. Certainly if they harry individual travelers they would rise up against any organized settlement. Perhaps that is why none exists. Simna waved diffidently. Gwouroud knows that s not it, bruther. They re just fearful folk hereabouts. They feed off the tall tales and spook stories of their neighbors. I ve been through provinces like that, where everyone is so credulous they re scared to set foot beyond their own village. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply of the brisk, unpolluted air, its innate refreshingness enhanced by the extra oxygen being pumped out by the forest. The wagon hit a rut and bounced, jarring Ahlitah momentarily awake. Pick your trail with care, man, he rumbled. There is only one. Ehomba s response was curt. And while we have the wind with us, this is no flying machine to soar smoothly over what water has cut. Moments after Ehomba composed his terse rejoinder, the wagon began to slow. Opening his eyes again, Simna ibn Sind saw that the wind still blew in gusts sufficient to drive the vehicle. It was Ehomba who was bringing them to a gradual halt as he turned the sail sideways to the breeze. Frowning, the swordsman sat up. Hoy, bruther, why are we stopping? A glance at the sky showed that it was too early for the midday meal. It was time for them to be covering as much ground as possible, not pausing to rest or engage in casual contemplation of their surroundings. This wind is meant to be used. So are your eyes. Standing near the rear of the wagon, the herdsman held his long, slim arm out straight, parallel to the ground and pointing to his right, off into the woods. Blinking, Simna glanced in the indicated direction. So did an insouciant Hunkapa Aub. Curled up near the back of the wagon, the black litah ignored the delay in favor of sleep. I don t see anything, bruther. The swordsman s confusion showed itself in his face. What are you pointing at? What am I supposed to be looking for? In that big elm. A bird. Ehomba sighted along his arm. I understand your difficulty. It is not very big. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html About the size of a sparrow. Simna made a face. You stopped so we could look at a sparrow? There! Ehomba s identifying finger shifted slightly to the right. It just flew into the tree next to it. It is a little closer now. See? He gestured impatiently with his arm. Near the outer end of the lowermost large branch, among the leaves. Realizing that to resume headway meant humoring the herdsman, Simna muttered under his breath. As he adjusted his position slightly in the wagon, he was nearly knocked over by the abrupt shifting of the hairy mass next to him. Hunkapa see, Hunkapa see! Their oversized companion was pointing excitedly, bouncing up and down in the wagon. The stalwart wooden bed creaked dangerously. Bird without! Without? Time to put an end to whatever nonsense had afflicted his friends, Simna decided. Without what? Straining, he followed the pair of pointing arms and used them to fix his gaze on a particular branch in a certain tree. [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |