Читать книгу Through the Thorns into the Abyss онлайн

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All this did not help… what’s more – played a bad service! As the cousins say, «fate has a rather dark sense of humor.

Laira well remembered the last day of her relatively carefree childhood. The spring sun was shining, warming her tenderly. Dandelions bloomed, tender grass grew. One could become intoxicated by the wonderful smells… The little girl, together with her six friends, was resting on the outskirts of the village, on a high but gentle hill, blown about by the breeze. Spreading a patterned rug on an emerald meadow, she played with Shinak and Viran in Tammashil, an ancient Cusunian game. She contemplated the checkered board intently. Shinak took the dice, shook them in his fist – and threw them. The bully raised her eyebrows in surprise – her «ally» was lucky again. He leisurely rearranged half a dozen pieces, overthrew the «enemy» combat mammoth – and waited for the «blow back,» from the slingers and six-armed giants.

The rest of his friends were loitering nearby.

– Come on, Viran, let’s go,» Shinak said softly and snidely, scratching his fat cheek. His button eyes scrutinized the battlefield as if there were little devils dancing in them. The boy took a honey pie from his bag – and took a bite of half of it. Slowly he chewed it, still thinking.