Page 38 (1/2)

1

Ravens! Always the ravens They settled on the gables of the church even before the injured becaers froallowspost and nodded to the birds, a dozen of the

The town-square ran red Blood in the gutters, blood on the flagstones, blood in the fountain The corpses posed as corpses do Soers, some peaceful, coiled about their wounds Flies rose above the wounded as they struggled This way and that, soe

“Water! Water!” It’s alater with the dying Strange, it’s killing that gives me a thirst

And that was Mabberton Two hundred dead far with their scythes and axes You knoarned the I said it to their leader, Bovid Tor I gave them that chance, I always do But no They wanted blood and slaughter And they got it

War,of beauty Those as says otherwise are losing If I’d bothered to go over to old Bovid, propped up against the fountain with his guts in his lap, he’d probably take a contrary view But look where disagreeing got him

“Shit-poor farers over Bovid’s open belly He cas, as if it was e and one fecking gold ring I’d like to set the bastards up and knock ’e-farmers”

He would too: he was an evil bastard, and greedy with it I held his eye “Settle down, Brother Rike There’s old in Mabberton”

I gave hiic from the scene; besides, I had to be stern with hi ave him a look that told hiru, and thrust his knife back in his belt

Makin caauntlet to shoulder-plate If Makin had a skill, then ss over was it

“Brother Jorg is right, Little Rikey There’s treasure aplenty to be found” He ont to call Rike “Little Rikey,” on account of hi a head taller than any of us and twice as wide Makin always told jokes He’d tell theave hio out with a smile

“What treasure?” Rike wanted to know, still surly

“When you get faret, Little Rikey?” Makin raised his eyebrows all suggestive

Rike lifted his visor, treating us to his ugly face Well, brutal ly I think the scars improved him “Cows?”

Makin pursed his lips I never liked his lips, too thick and fleshy, but I forgave hi and his deathly ith that flail of his “Well, you can have the cows, Little Rikey Me, I’hter or three, before the others use them all up”

They went off then, Rike doing that laugh of his, “hur, hur, hur,” as if he was trying to cough a fishbone out

I watched them force the door to Bovid’s place opposite the church, a fine house, high roofed ooden slates and a little flower garden in front Bovid followed them with his eyes, but he couldn’t turn his head

I looked at the ravens, I watched Ge heads, Maical with the cart and Ge of beauty, I tell you At least to look at I’ll agree war sh and the stink would all turn to wood-ss? I needed no more payment

“Boy!” Bovid called out, his voice all hollow like, and weak

I went to stand before his all of a sudden “Best speak your piece quickly, far with his axe Chop-chop”

He didn’t seem too worried It’s hard to worry a man so close to the worhtly and calledin the cellar maybe? Old Rike will sniff them out”