[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Pa-Kur was dead.I sheathed my sword and went to Talena.I unbound her.Trembling, she stoodbeside me, and we took one another in our arms, the blood from my woundstaining her robe."I love you," I saidWe held one another, and her eyes, wet with tears, lifted to mine."I loveyou," she said.The lion laugh of Marlenus resounded from behind us.Talena and I broke apart.My hand was on my sword.The Ubar's hand gently restrained mine."It has doneenough work for one day," he smiled."Let it rest."The Ubar went to his daughter and took her fine head in his great hands.Heturned her head from side to side and looked into her eyes."Yes," he said, asif he might have seen his daughter for the first time, "she is fit to be thedaughter of a Ubar." Then he clapped his hands on my shoulders."See that Ihave grandsons," he said.I looked about.Sana stood in the arms of Kazrak, and I knew that the formerslave girl had found the man to whom she would give herself, not for a hundredtaros but for love.My father stood watching me, approval in his eyes.In the distance PaKur'scamp was only a framework of blackened poles.In the city his garrison hadsurrendered.Beyond the walls the horde had cast down its weapons.Ar wassaved.Talena looked into my eyes."What will you do with me?" she asked."I will take you to Ko-ro-ba," I said, "to my city.""As your slave?" she smiled."If you will have me," I said, "as my Free Companion.""I accept you, Tarl of Ko-ro-ba," said Talena with love in her eyes."I acceptyou as my FreeCompanion.""If you did not," I laughed, "I would throw you across my saddle and carry youto Ko-ro-ba by force."She laughed as I swept her from her feet and lifted her to the saddle of mygiant tarn.In the file:///F|/rah/John%20Norman/Tarnsman%20of%20Gor.txt (95 of98) [1/20/03 3:36:23 AM]file:///F|/rah/John%20Norman/Tarnsman%20of%20Gor.txt saddle, her arms werearound my neck, her lips on mine."Are you a true warrior?" she asked, hereyes bright with mischief, testing me, her voice breathless."We shall see," I laughed.Then, in accord with the rude bridal customs of Gor, as she furiously butplayfully struggled, as she squirmed and protested and pretended to resist, Ibound her bodily across the saddle of the tarn.Her wrists and ankles weresecured, and she lay before me, arched over the saddle, helpless, a captive,but of love and her own free will.The warriors laughed, Marlenus the loudest."It seemsI belong to you, bold Tarnsman," she said, "What are you going to do with me?"In answer, I hauled on the one-strap, and the great bird rose into the air,higher and higher, even into the clouds, and she cried to me, "Let it be now,Tarl," and even before we had passed the outermost ramparts of Ar, I hadPage 102 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmluntied her ankles and flung her single garment to the streets below, to showher people what had been the fate of the daughter of their Ubar.20EpilogueIT IS TIME NOW FOR a lonely man to conclude his narrative, without bitternessbut without resignation.I have never surrendered the hope that someday,somehow, I might return to Gor, ourCounter-Earth.These final sentences are written in a small apartment inManhattan, some six floors above the street.The sounds of playing childrencarry through the open window.I have refused to return to England, and I willremain in this country from which I departed, years ago, for that distantworld which holds what I most love.I can see the blazing sun this Julyafternoon, and know that behind it, counter poised with my native planet, liesanother world.And I wonder if on that world a girl, now a woman, thinks ofme, and perhaps, too, of the secrets I have told her lie behind her sun,Tor-tu-Gor, Light Upon the Home Stone.My destiny had been accomplished.I had served the Priest-Kings.The shape ofa world had been altered, the rivers of a planet's history turned to newchannels.Then, no longer needed, I was discarded.Perhaps the Priest Kings,whoever or whatever they might be, reasoned that such a man was dangerous,that such a man might in time raise his own banner of dominion; perhaps theyrealized that I, of all on Gor, did not revere them, would not turn and bow myhead in the direction of the Sardar Mountains; perhaps they envied me theflame of my love for Talena;perhaps, in the cold recesses of the Sardar Mountains, their intelligencescould not accept that this vulnerable, perishable creature was more blessedthan they, in their wisdom and their power
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Tematy
IndexWarren Adler Wojna państwa Rose 01 Wojna państwa Rose
§ Menzel Iwona W poszukiwaniu zapachu snów 01 W poszukiwaniu zapachu snów
Lachlan M D Synowie boga 01 Synowie boga (2)
Robbins Harold Handlarze snów 01 Handlarze snow
§ Rudnicka Olga (01) Zacisze 13 Zacisze 13
Reynard Sylvain Piekło Gabriela 01 Piekło Gabriela
Kalifornijska noc 01 Kalifornijska noc Adler Elizabeth
Alexandra Bracken Mroczne umysły 01 Mroczne umysły
Cook, Robin Polisa Âśmierci
Lennox Judith Florenckie lato