Bloody Revenge

by Darrell Guidry

  the crooked trees. On right - were spread by a black mirror

  impenetrable abysses. There was not to Hod to the person, except as by the boat or

  on a raft, but all spring and all summer and busy feathery teemed

  life.

  Several dense packs were still turned in a distance also now, preparing to

  to long flight... Whether the edge exists, again wondered

  Wolfhound where to it here to the fertile swamp equally rejoice also an animal, and

  bird, and person... And nobody its ghosts inhabits?.

  The glade where decided to spend the night, lay just opposite to floods, over

  granite vzlobka from which several streams fell to the swamp

  pure stream. There were rare, thick pines, and between them there and

  сям spots of ancient campfires blackened. Mimoyezzhy people so many time burned

  fire on the same places that to death the burned-through soil any more not

  could support neither a sunflower seed, nor a back,

  So far put tents and gathered water in coppers. The wolfhound bypassed the camp

  around, reconnoitering places. He acted every time before a lodging for the night this way.

  At first soldiers played a trick on it, then got used and ceased. Especially

  that on eggings on he did not respond.

  People on the way, arranging a halt, look for the place equal and dry and that

  near water and that the summer breeze blew off mosquitoes, and an autumn storm or

  more blizzard, on the contrary, could not get that. If the Wolfhound was given

  the power to dispose in own way, he would choose the place differently.

  He would order to stop where, happen that, would be easy

  to beat off. First, to Klyuchinka, he tried to insist on something.

  But quickly understood that, except hints on the Vienna cowardice and dullness,

  a little what will achieve. Here then he got a habit to bypass around

  the place of a lodging for the night, estimating from where would begin to approach a knesinka tent

  he if wanted that.

  Once, on the bank of Sivur, it already came true...

  The wolfhound barefoot went on a green moss, rejoicing that an opportunity dropped out

  to have a rest from boots. So far at a knesinka, barefoot you will not stand: not

  it is accepted. The forest carpet caressed a foot, the snow which were not afraid even, hands

  lasted for chernogoloviky, put out in this world dark-brown

  hat. And such place declared bad, gave under nasty igrishche

  to spiteful shadows?. All right would undergo the fire here, for the years ahead exterminated

  all live... And that.!

  Still some time ago he caught behind careful steps and learned

  gait Ertan. The wolfhound decided to hide, pass the girl by and

  to rise behind the back, but then changed the mind. There is no need to offend. Well and that that

  it is stolen behind it, so not with the evil. Venn stepped directly before it

  because of a fir-tree:

  - Let's resemble together, Ertan.

  - You will not creep to you, - hiding disappointment, the warrior grumbled.

  The wolfhound grinned:

  - The monarchess pays me for that that nobody could creep.

  Ertan shook the head:

  - As you, for money do not serve. A wolfhound, having thought, answered:

  - The knesinka in offense did not give me and in every possible way caressed and that also

  money pardons...

  - You did not want to go here, - without effort keeping up with its wide

  at a slow pace, Ertan told. - Someone considered that you were afraid.

  The wolfhound indifferently shrugged shoulders:

  - So I truly am afraid. Ertan thoughtfully spoke:

  - I knew people who to themselves would bite off language, but did not tell

  similar.

  - I am not such brave, - the Wolfhound grumbled. They managed to depart from

  tents on kind one hundred sazhens and besides climbed a slope, almost

  having reached the bald stone top of a hillock.

  - What do you look out here in the wood, the Wolfhound for? - asked

  warrior. - Not mushrooms?

  - I look out, - told veins, - such place where one could

  to stop many if attack us. - Kept silent and added: - There,

  below, not really you will battle.

  - Yes with whom.? Who will attack us here? Or you... with ghosts you want

  to fight weapon of mortal? The wolfhound directly looked at it and told:

  - Ghosts, not ghosts, I do not know. Perhaps will also not attack. Well not

  attacked. But if suddenly get... all the same who... I want to save madam.

  You understand?

  Ertan silently watched at it some time, herself understanding something.

  - The grandfather told, - she slowly spoke then, - here, still

  a little higher, there is a thrown sanctuary. It was constructed by those ancient

  tribes which more here do not live. We do not know what Gods they there

  called, but Dark seldom pray at tops...

  The wolfhound nodded:

  - Went we will have a look.

  Having seen a sanctuary, veins regretted again that it was not imperious to force

  the boyar and foremen to act from the chosen town. Unknown people

  brought from where the heavy, almost not processed boulders and piled up

  they are one on another, having erected a certain similarity of the house without roof, with

  twelve narrow - hardly to squeeze to the person - entrances exits on

  all parts of the world. Stones were entirely speckled by drawings and beaten out

  letters. A wolfhound, on - сольвеннски still reading with big

  work, did not manage to comprehend letters, but in drawings understood something. They

  told about the movement of heavenly bodies and about adventures of unknown to it

  Gods to whom stars belonged.

  Tilorna here, once again regretted about himself veins. Here whom

  horses would be not to drag from these stones. Now would begin to run

  around, to swing hands, to interpret and there to compare to something. Moreover

  would help itself different sophisticated words like "culture"... Wolfhound

  not especially understood that this meant, but from all Tilornovy spells at

  it on mind it for some reason span.

  It bypassed a sanctuary, moving посолонь not to offend any of

  Forces for certain dozing inside. And with what he saw and understood

  for certain even Tilorn would agree. The dwelling built by the tribe for

  the Gods, at the same time served as a citadel Krom to the people. If attacked

  the enemy, the stone ring reliably covered incapable to battle. Meanwhile

  as soldiers, - and whether many insignificant hunting could expose soldiers

  tribe? - defended passes, previously having filled up a half...

  Ertan went after the Wolfhound, attentively examining a sanctuary and,

  it seems, even sniffing. The desperate warrior visited almost everywhere,

  where in due time her grandfather traveled. It crossed and the woods on edge

  Kayeransky bogs, but here did not happen to get it somehow.

  On only one Mysh ancient stones of any sacred awe not

  cast. The black small animal scurried about in air there and here, dived into narrow cracks

  and with peep took off back in the sun. The wolfhound could swear that

  the little flyer already found somewhere nearby the settlement of the

  relatives and now could not wait for darkness to hunt with them and

  to play, or perhaps and with
the girlfriend of a vzapuska to be worn... Wolfhound not

  tried to hold it. He knew that Mysh will not leave it.

  Eventually veins stopped at the southern entrance, as well as it befitted

  to the polite guest who came with trust and good. He did not know as

  and even in what language it was necessary to address local Gods. And therefore

  just put both hands on a stone, mentally asking a permission to enter.

  Ertan silently watched it. She could prompt nothing to it therefore

  that was others here. The wolfhound listened, endeavoring to feel though

  any answer, but did not feel anything, except heat prigrety

  autumn sun of granite. Yes, he told himself. To whoever prayed here,

  hardly it were Dark Gods. And Light will not begin to punish curious

  the newcomers who were for the help. They know that we here at all not

  to offend somebody.

  He stepped in a narrow hole, squeezed between boulders and it appeared inside.

  Once, probably, the round stone platform was scraped out to

  purity, but now and it braided a white-greenish carpet the moss covering

  treeless top of a rocky ridge. Thick walls of a sanctuary did not allow

  inside cold winds, but where the stone was caressed day after day

  sunshine, on rough granite the green bindweed clambered. Here

  evenit was warmer, than in other places, and the bindweed still blossomed absolutely

  as in summer, trustfully opening light pink petals.

  The wolfhound looked at gentle petals and was finally assured that

  to any evil there was no place here.

  He expected to find in a sanctuary of a sculpture of Gods or some sacred

  the images, perhaps, broken, profaned - so usually do

  winners, whenever possible to weaken Gods of the conquered tribe, - and

  that and the semi-decayed bones of defenders. But is not present, anything similar it not

  found. But, as well as it was necessary in sensible strengthening, here was

  water. It streamed from a crack in the rock, gathered in a stone bowl, obviously

  vytesanny human hands, then overflowed and again

  spread on cracks. Behind a spring bowl the stone was cut off and

  it is ironed as if a small table. What intended this stone for

  long ago the left people, there was nobody to ask now, but the Wolfhound judged,

  that most likely for gifts.

  Having rummaged in a zone bag, veins pulled out a cracker and pulled down it on

  several parts. He dipped one in a bowl and put on sacrificial

  stone, another was stretched by Ertan, the third was taken. Was, of course

  piece and for Mysh attracted with a type of a food.

  If local Gods still looked from unearthly height at the thrown

  sanctuary, for certain they marveled and delighted to the unexpected victim,

  at least and brought by chuzheplemennik.

  - You want to convince to a ban-rion to get over here on a lodging for the night? - eating up

  cracker, Ertan asked.

  The wolfhound looked at it and thought that the few girls as

  it, would go to walk in the woods together with the man just for the sake of that,

  friendly to chat. To chat, without planning at all to carry away it the

  beauty. And even less so without being afraid, as if this beauty did not rouse

  to use it hands. He remembered trips with a knesinka to Sveta’s and

  thought that Elen Gluzdovna, it is visible, was from such too. And Niilit,

  considering his brother...

  - No, - he told the warrior. - I do not hope. It is simple that was where

  to get away... you never know suddenly...

  - I would talk to our velkha, - Ertan offered. - If here

  ten children will be arranged, will be not superfluous.

  - Not superfluous, - the Wolfhound nodded. - All right, went... so far madam

  the knesinka for mushrooms in the wood without demand did not gather.

  - To me here your adolescents porasskazat... - going down together with it

  on a slope, there began the velkhinka. - And Ania with Ketarn. You, speak, not bad

  you fight...

  - Perhaps also I fight, - the Wolfhound grumbled.

  - Still say as if you mentioned once that you allegedly the woman

  taught much...

  - Perhaps also taught.

  - Who is she was, the Wolfhound? I heard, somewhere behind the seas there is whole

  people of aggressive women. It was a sort from there?

  The wolfhound shook the head.

  - She was priestess Kahn, the merciful Goddess of the Moon. The goddess Kahn is honored on

  South of the Eternal Steppe...

  It was long ago. Whole life back. To it it was hardly executed nineteen,

  and he not quite got used to own person, just for the first time for

  it is a lot of years to what was seen in a mirror. He climbed down mountains on the plain,

  having said goodbye to country houses - the Sovereigns of Clouds who took away it at

  Morana Smerti. It went on a narrow track, bearing in a lean bag bread and leather

  large bottle with curdled milk, and not especially well imagined where this

  the track will bring him. He knew well only where it will come to an end forever. At

  Sveta’si's coast. Over Koons Vinitariya's corpse known as the Cannibal.

  Here so it went, screwing up watering, not wishing to get used in any way to

  to eye light when Nonvolatile Mysh hissed and it was uneasily delivered at it

  on a shoulder. Then ahead human voices were distributed.

  The wolfhound rounded the big, killed with the blossoming bush cretaceous rock and

  saw ahead the road, and on the road - three people.

  One was the elderly gray-haired woman in gray woolen wide trousers and

  to blue quilted sleeveless jacket, zapakhnuty not as it was accepted at venn.

  She slowly moved back, holding a staff in hand, and aside stood still

  myshasty color burro. The wolfhound for some reason decided at once that a burro

  belonged to the traveler. And directly before himself he saw backs of two

  the armed men. One kept in readiness a spear, another - long

  hatchet. They approached the woman, loudly exchanging words on-sakkaremski.

  The wolfhound learned this language in the mine, but nevertheless experienced easy amazement,

  having found out what really understands. The sense of their speeches reached it only

  during the next moment.

  Two hefty swells exchanged obscene remarks and advised

  the woman in an amicable way to present to them both a burro, and the favor. Then,

  can, they will allow it to remain to live.

  Then they noticed that the woman, without listening, inquisitively

  considered something at them behind the back. The wolfhound threw a swag, published

  animal growl also rushed in fight.

  It already then was very quickly. Also it is very strong. And, when reached to

  fights, thought only of that, to kill as if, but not how to keep to itself

  life. Everything came to an end during only a few moments. In road dust two rolled

  corpse, and the Wolfhound was kneeling, clamping a palm the unstitched shoulder.

  Before falling down with the broken neck, one of robbers was in time

  to hit it, and the tip of a spear struck up to a bone.

  The gray-haired woman between that most cool image inspected

  slaughter, and the Wolfhound saw disappointment and chagrin at it on a face. It approached

  also asked, having stopped over it.

  "Why you killed these unfortunate, the kid?"
/>
  Broad-shouldered "kid" with a decent gray hair in a beard looked at it

  from below up, badly understanding about what the speech. At first it was prokhvatit by cold

  sweat at the thought: really it happened terrible and he foolishly made what

  most of all in life was afraid - finished with not guilty?. But is not present,

  fresh memory of just occurred demonstrated that it not

  was mistaken.

  "Well... As, madam..." - it squeezed out at last.

  "They still could see reason and understand that they chose wrong

  way, - the woman reproachfully spoke. - Now they anything any more not

  will understand. Why you needed to kill them?"

  Equally well she could demand explanations why at

  it, we will put, two hands. But not five and not six. To the person capable though

  to conceive an indecency over the woman, simply there was no need further

  to live. And all here. On that there was its world.

  "Absolutely wild. And absolutely the silly fellow, - the stranger sighed. Then ordered:

  - Well give, show that you caused to yourself there".

  The wolfhound carefully opened fingers. From under a hand densely ran

  blood.

  "Clamp and sit", - the strict order followed. The woman posvistat

  to burro. That obediently ran up, tripping, and began to sniff humbly

  both is the Wolfhound and Mysh. The woman undid a peremetny bag and pulled out

  small box. Having poured out itself on a palm a shred of brilliant

  colourless powder, it squeezed a dry cam, brought it to a mouth and

  bent down:

  "Take away a hand..."

  The wolfhound removed a palm from a wound. The woman sharply blew in a fist, and powder

  took off a dense cloudlet, having deeply got into the bleeding flesh.

  Vienna it happened to spray wounds wine, it happened and to cauterize them

  golovny. He thought that he already tested on the skin everything that only

  perhaps, but, appears, mistaken. A half of a torso and all hand to fingers

  were simply taken away. The wolfhound did not cry only because ability

  to suffer was nearly the main science acquired by it in Bright

  mountains.

  "... tender, - the stranger's voice sank again,

  continuing indifferently something to tell it. - But I

  I protect it for special cases. For example, for women in labor".

  The wolfhound razlepit lips and prosipet: