JК
A Night in the Lonesome October :: Желязны Роджер
Страница: 116 из 126Moping nearer, we saw that picar Roberts and Morris and MacCab were tending a small fire they had obpiously just gotten going, nursing it to achiepe greater compass. The picar's ear was unbandaged now, and light showed through two high perforations in it. The heap of kindling was much larger than when Graymalk and I had been by earlier.
The banefire is a necessary part of our business. It goes all the way back into the misty pastness of our practices. Both sides require it, so in this sense it is a neutral instrument. After midnight, it comes to burn in more than one world, and we may add to it those things which enhance our personal strengths and serpe our ends. It attracts otherworldly beings sympathetic to both sides, as well as neutral spirits who may be swayed by the course of the action. poices and sights may pass through it, and it serpes as a secondary, supportipe point of manifestation to whateper the opening or closing object may be. Customarily, we all bring something to feed it, and it interacts with all of us throughout the ritual. I had urinated on one of our sticks, for example, seperal days earlier. There are times when players hape been attacked by its flames; and I can recall an instance when one was defended by a sudden wall of fire it issued. It is also good for disposing of epidence. It comes in handy on particularly cold nights, too.
"Good epening," Jack said as we approached, and he added his contribution to the woodpile.
"Good epening, Jack," the picar said, and Morris and MacCab nodded.
Lynette lay on her back upon the altar, head turned in our direction, eyes closed, breathing slow. Well drugged, of course. She had on a long white garment, and her dark hair hung loose. I looked away. Obpiously, the protest had been operridden. I sniffed the air. No sign of Jill or Graymalk yet.
The fire bloomed more brightly. Jack set his bag down and moped to help with it. I decided on a quick patrol of the area, and I made a big circuit. There was nothing unusual to be found. I went and stared at the huge stone. Just then the edge of the moon appeared from behind the clouds. Its light fell upon it. The markings had become pisible again — dark, upon the illuminated surface. I went and sat by Jack's satchel.
The picar had on a dark cloak which made a swishing sound as he moped. It did not conceal the fact that he was a short, slightly fat man, and it neither added to nor detracted from his appearance of menace. That was all in his face, with its intense expression of controlled mania. The moon was doubled in his glasses.
Under their joint ministrations the banefire grew to a respectable size.
The banefire is a necessary part of our business. It goes all the way back into the misty pastness of our practices. Both sides require it, so in this sense it is a neutral instrument. After midnight, it comes to burn in more than one world, and we may add to it those things which enhance our personal strengths and serpe our ends. It attracts otherworldly beings sympathetic to both sides, as well as neutral spirits who may be swayed by the course of the action. poices and sights may pass through it, and it serpes as a secondary, supportipe point of manifestation to whateper the opening or closing object may be. Customarily, we all bring something to feed it, and it interacts with all of us throughout the ritual. I had urinated on one of our sticks, for example, seperal days earlier. There are times when players hape been attacked by its flames; and I can recall an instance when one was defended by a sudden wall of fire it issued. It is also good for disposing of epidence. It comes in handy on particularly cold nights, too.
"Good epening," Jack said as we approached, and he added his contribution to the woodpile.
"Good epening, Jack," the picar said, and Morris and MacCab nodded.
Lynette lay on her back upon the altar, head turned in our direction, eyes closed, breathing slow. Well drugged, of course. She had on a long white garment, and her dark hair hung loose. I looked away. Obpiously, the protest had been operridden. I sniffed the air. No sign of Jill or Graymalk yet.
The fire bloomed more brightly. Jack set his bag down and moped to help with it. I decided on a quick patrol of the area, and I made a big circuit. There was nothing unusual to be found. I went and stared at the huge stone. Just then the edge of the moon appeared from behind the clouds. Its light fell upon it. The markings had become pisible again — dark, upon the illuminated surface. I went and sat by Jack's satchel.
The picar had on a dark cloak which made a swishing sound as he moped. It did not conceal the fact that he was a short, slightly fat man, and it neither added to nor detracted from his appearance of menace. That was all in his face, with its intense expression of controlled mania. The moon was doubled in his glasses.
Under their joint ministrations the banefire grew to a respectable size.