Fire knife. Read the book Fire Knife online. Country of the Black Mountains

Robert HOWARD
Sprague de Camp
FIRE KNIFE

1. BLADES IN THE DARKNESS
The Cimmerian giant became wary: from the shadowed doorway
Quick, careful steps were heard. Conan turned and in the darkness of the arch
I saw a vague tall figure. The man rushed forward. In the wrong light
the Cimmerian managed to make out a bearded face, distorted with rage. IN
steel flashed in his raised hand. Conan dodged, and the knife, ripping open the cloak,
slid over the light chain mail. Before the killer regained his balance,
Conan grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and with an iron fist
caused crushing blow on the enemy's neck. Without a sound the man collapsed
to the ground.
For some time Conan stood over the prostrate body, tensely
listening to the sounds of the night. Around the corner ahead he heard a light knock
sandals, the faint clink of steel. These sounds made it clear
understand that the night streets of Anshan are a direct road to death. IN
hesitatingly, he pulled the sword halfway out of its scabbard, but, shrugging his shoulders,
hurried back, staying away from the black arched gaps looking at
him with empty eye sockets on both sides of the street.
He turned into a wider street and a few moments later was knocking
through the door, above which a pink lantern was burning. The door immediately opened. Conan
stepped inside, abruptly throwing:
- Close it, quickly!
The huge Shemite, who met the Cimmerian, hung a heavy bolt and, not
ceasing to twirl the rings of his blue-black beard on his fingers, intently
looked at his boss.
- There's blood on your shirt! - he muttered.
“I was almost stabbed,” Conan answered. - I dealt with the murderer,
but his friends were waiting in ambush.
The Shemite's eyes sparkled, his muscular, hairy hand rested on the handle.
three-foot Ilbar dagger.
- Maybe we’ll make a sortie and slaughter these dogs? - trembling from
The Shemit suggested in a furious voice.
Conan shook his head. He was a huge warrior, a real
a giant, but despite his power, his movements were light, like those of a cat.
A wide chest, bullish neck and square shoulders spoke of strength and endurance
barbarian savage.
“There are more important things to do,” he said. - These are the enemies of Balash. They already know
that this evening I had a fight with the king.
- Yah! - exclaimed the Shemite. - This is really bad news. AND
What did the king tell you?
Conan took the flask of wine and almost drained it in a few gulps.
half.
“Ah, Kobad Shah is obsessed with suspicion,” he said contemptuously.
He. - So, now it’s our friend Balash’s turn. The leader's enemies set up
the king was against him, but Balash became stubborn. He is in no hurry to confess,
because, he says, Kobad planned to put his head on a pike. So
Kobad ordered me and the Cossacks to go to the Ilbar Mountains and deliver
to him Balasha - if possible entirely, and in any case - the head.
- Well?
- I refused.
- Refused?! - The Shemite took his breath away.
- Certainly! Who do you take me for? I told Kobad Shah how
Balash and his tribe saved us from certain death when we got lost in
midwinter in the Ilbar Mountains. We then walked south of the Sea Vilayet,
remember? And if it weren’t for Balash, we would probably have been killed by the mountaineer tribes. But
this cretin Kobad didn’t even listen to the end. He began to shout about his divine
right, about the insult to his royal majesty by a despicable barbarian and much more
what more. I swear, another minute - and I would have stuffed his imperial turban
down his throat!
- I hope you have enough sense not to touch the king?
- That's enough, don't shake. Although I was burning with the desire to teach him a lesson.
Great Crom! Kill me, I don’t understand: how can you, civilized people?
crawl on its belly in front of a copper-faced donkey, which by the will of blind chance
put a golden trinket on his head and, perched on a chair with
diamonds, pretends to be who knows what!
- Yes, because this donkey, as you deigned to put it, with one movement
finger can tear off our skin or impale us. And now to
To avoid the king's wrath, we will have to flee Iranistan.
Conan finished the wine from the flask and licked his lips.
- I think this is unnecessary. Kobad Shah will get mad and calm down. Must
after all, he understands that now his army is no longer what it was in the days
the rise of the empire. Now his striking force is light cavalry, that is, us.
But still, Balash’s disgrace has not been lifted. I'm tempted to give up everything and
rush north - warn him of danger.
-Are you really going to go alone?
- Why not? You'll start a rumor that I'm sleeping it off after
another binge. A few days will be enough for everything, and then...
A light knock on the door cut Conan off mid-sentence. The Cimmerian threw
a quick glance at the Shemite and, stepping towards the door, growled:
- Who else is there?
“It’s me, Nanaya,” answered a female voice.
Conan looked at his comrade.
- What kind of Nanaya? Don't you know, Tubal?
- No. What if this is their trick?
- Let me in! - the plaintive voice was heard again.
“Now we’ll see,” Conan said quietly but decisively, and his eyes
flashed. He unsheathed his sword and put his hand on the bolt. Tubal,
armed with a dagger, he stood on the other side of the door.
With a sharp movement, Conan pulled out the bolt and opened the door. Through the threshold
a woman in a thrown veil stepped forward, but then, faintly screaming at the sight
blades sparkling in her muscular hands, leaned back.
In a lightning-quick thrust, Conan turned the weapon - and the tip of the sword
touched the back of the unexpected guest.
“Come in, lady,” Conan muttered in Hyrcanian with terrible
barbaric accent.
The woman stepped forward. Conan slammed the door and bolted it.
- You are alone?
- Y-yes. All alone...
Conan quickly threw his hand forward and tore the
veil. A girl stood in front of him - tall, flexible, dark. Black hair
and graceful, chiseled features captivated the eye.
- So, Nanaya, what does this all mean?
“I am a concubine from the royal seraglio...” she began.
Tubal whistled:
- This is just what we needed!
“More,” Conan ordered.
The girl spoke again:
- I often watched you through the patterned lattice behind the royal
throne when you and Kobad Shah conferred in private. Delivers to the Tsar
pleasure when his women see their master busy
state affairs. Usually when deciding important issues us to the gallery
they don’t let me in, but this evening the eunuch Khatrite got drunk and forgot to lock
a door leading from the women's quarters to the gallery. I snuck in there and
I overheard your conversation with the Shah. You spoke very harshly.
When you left, Kobad was seething with rage. He called Khakamani,
head of the secret service, and ordered him, without making a fuss, to
finish off. Hakamani had to make sure everything looked like
an ordinary accident.
- When I get to Khakamani, I’ll also give him some unfortunate
happening. - Conan gritted his teeth. - But why all these ceremonies? Kobad
shows no more scrupulousness than other monarchs when he comes
the desire to shorten an unwanted subject by the head.
- Yes, because he wants to keep your Cossacks, and if they
If they find out about the murder, they will certainly rebel and leave.
- Let us suppose. Why did you decide to warn me?
Large dark eyes looked at him with a languid look.
- In the harem I die of boredom. There are hundreds of women there, and the king still has
there was no time for me. From the very first day, barely seeing through you
lattice, I admire you. I want you to take me with you - no
nothing worse than the endless, monotonous life of the seraglio with its eternal intrigues
and gossip. I am the daughter of Kujal, ruler of Gwadir. Men of our tribe -
fishermen and sailors. Our people live far south of here on Zhemchuzhny
islands. At home I had my own ship. I took him through hurricanes and
rejoiced, overcoming the elements, and the local idle life in a golden cage brings
makes me crazy.
- How did you find yourself free?
- The usual thing: a rope and an unguarded window with an exposed bar.
But it is not important. Will you... will you take me with you?
“Tell her to return to the seraglio,” Tubal quietly advised
a mixture of Zaporozhye and Hyrcanian with an admixture of half a dozen other languages. - And also
better - slash her throat and bury her in the garden. So the king of us may not
will pursue, but will never give up if we grab a trophy from
his harem. As soon as he realizes that you ran away with your concubine, he
will turn over every stone in Iranistan and will not rest until you are gone
will find it.
Apparently, the girl did not know this adverb, but the ominous, threatening
the tone left no doubt. She trembled.
Conan bared his teeth in a wolfish grin.
“Just the opposite,” he said. - My guts hurt from
thoughts that I will have to flee the country with my tail between my legs. But with such a tempting
a trophy - that changes everything! And since escape cannot be avoided... - He
turned to Nanaya: - I hope you understand that you will have to go quickly,
not on a cobbled street and not in that decent society that you
surrounded.
- Understand.
- And besides... - he narrowed his eyes, - I will demand
unquestioning obedience.
- Certainly.
- Fine. Tubal, raise our dogs. We will perform as soon as we collect
things and saddle the horses.
Muttering vaguely something about a bad feeling, the Shemite headed
to the inner room. There he shook the shoulder of a man sleeping on a pile
carpets
- Wake up, seed of thieves! - he grumbled. - We're going north.
Gattus, a flexible dark-skinned Zamoran, with difficulty opened his eyelids and,
Yawning, he sat down.
- Where again?
- To Kushaf, in the Ilbar Mountains, where we spent the winter and where the wolves are
Balasha will surely cut our throats!
Hattus stood up, grinning:
- You don’t have tender feelings for the kushafi, but Conan is great with them
gets along.
Tubal knitted his eyebrows and, without answering, with his head held high
went out through the door leading to the annex. Soon they heard from there
curses and snorting from awakened people.
Two hours have passed. Suddenly, vague figures watching the inn
courtyard outside, moved deeper into the shadows, the gates swung open and three hundred
The Free Brothers on horseback, two in a row, rode out into the street - each led to
about a pack mule and a spare horse. People of all kinds of tribes, they were
the remnants of that riotous freemen who traded in robbery among the steppes near
Sea Vilayet. After the king of Turan, Ezdegerd, having gathered a powerful fist,
in a difficult battle that lasted from sunrise to sunset, defeated the community of outcasts,
They, led by Conan, went south. Warriors in rags, dying of hunger
managed to get to Anshan. But now, dressed in silk, bright colors
trousers, in pointed helmets of the most skilled craftsmen of Iranistan, hung with
from head to toe with weapons, Conan's people presented a very motley picture,
which spoke more about a lack of sense of proportion than about wealth.

Meanwhile, in the palace, the king of Iranistan, sitting on his throne, was thinking about
serious things. Suspicion so consumed his soul that he
There was a conspiracy everywhere. Until yesterday he had pinned his hopes on
supporting Conan and his band of ruthless mercenaries. To the savage from the north
courtly courtesy and manners were noticeably lacking, but he was undoubtedly
remained true to his barbaric code of honor. And this barbarian
openly refuses to carry out the order of Kobad Shah - to seize the traitor
Balasha and...
The king cast a casual glance at the tapestry hiding the alcove, and
absentmindedly thought that there must be a draft rising again,
because the curtain fluttered slightly. Then he looked at what was taken
gilded lattice window - and everything turned cold! Light curtains hung on it
still. But he clearly saw the curtain move!
Despite his short stature and tendency to be overweight, Kobad Shah cannot
was to be denied courage. Without hesitating for a second, he jumped up to the alcove and,
clutching the tapestry with both hands, he threw the curtain aside. In black
a blade flashed in his hand, and the killer struck the king in the chest with a dagger. Wild cry
swept through the chambers of the palace. The king fell onto the ground, dragging him with him
killer. The man screamed like a wild beast in his dilated pupils
the fire flashed, the blade only slid across the chest, revealing the hidden
chain mail clothing.
Shout responded to the overlord's calls for help. In the corridor
footsteps were heard quickly approaching. With one hand the king grabbed the murderer by the
hand, the other by the throat. But the attacker's tense muscles were harder
steel cable knots. While the killer and his victim, clinging tightly,
rolled on the floor, the dagger, bouncing off the chain mail a second time, struck the king in the
palm, thigh and arm. Under such a fierce onslaught, the rebuff of Kobad Shah
began to weaken. Then the killer, grabbing the king by the throat, raised his dagger to
the last blow, but at that moment, like a bolt of lightning, something flashed in
in the light of the lamps, the iron fingers on his throat unclenched, and a huge black man, with
with his skull cut to the teeth, he collapsed on the mosaic floor.
- Your Majesty! - A massive figure towered over Kobad Shah
Gotarza, captain of the royal guard, his face under his long black beard
was deathly pale. While the ruler was sitting on the sofa, Gotarza
he tore the curtains into strips to bandage the wounds of Kobad Shah.
- Look! - suddenly the king said barely audibly, stretching forward the trembling
hand. - Dagger! Great Asura! What is this?!
The dagger lay near the dead man’s hand, the blade glistened as if in the rays
sun, - an unusual weapon, with a wavy blade, shaped like
fiery tongue. Gotarza took a closer look and cursed, amazed.
- Fire dagger! - Kobad Shah exhaled. - They killed the rulers in the same way
Turan and Vendia!
- Sign of the Invisibles! - Gotarza whispered, peering anxiously at
an ominous symbol of an ancient cult.
The palace quickly filled with noise. Slaves and servants ran along the corridor,
loudly asking each other what happened.
- Close the door! - ordered the king. - Send for the palace manager,
Don't let anyone else in!
“But, Your Majesty, you need a doctor,” I tried to object.
captain. - The wounds are not dangerous, but perhaps the dagger is poisoned.
- Not now - later. Interesting... Whoever he was, one thing is clear: he
sent by my enemies. Great Asura! So the Jamesites sentenced me to
of death! - The terrible discovery shook the ruler’s courage. - Who will protect
me from a snake in the bed, a traitor's knife or poison in a cup of wine? True, there is
also this barbarian Conan, but even to him, after he dared to contradict,
I can’t even trust him with my life... Gotarza, has the manager come?
Let him come in. - A fat man appeared. “Well, Bardiya,” he turned to
him the king. - What news?
- Oh your majesty, what happened here? I dare to hope...
“It doesn’t matter what happened to me now, Bardiya. I see it in my eyes -
you know something. So?
- The Cossacks, led by Conan, left the city. Northern Gate Guard
Conan said that a detachment is coming on your orders to capture
traitor Balazs.
- Fine. Apparently, the barbarian has repented of his impudence and wants
make amends. Further.
- Khakamani wanted to grab Conan on the street, on the way to the house, but he
Having killed his man, he fled.
- Good too. Call off Hakamani until everything is final
will clear up. Anything else?
- One of the women of the seraglio - Nanaya, daughter of Kudzhal, ran away tonight
from the palace. The rope she used to climb down from the window was found.
Kobad Shah let out a wild growl from his chest.
- She probably ran away with that bastard Conan! Too much
coincidences! And he must have something to do with the Unseelie. Why else?
Did they send me a jezmit immediately after a quarrel with a Cimmerian? Most likely he
and sent it. Gotarza, raise the royal guard and ride after the Cossacks.
Bring me Conan's head, otherwise you'll pay with yours! Take at least
five hundred warriors. You can’t defeat barbarians in a rush: in battle they are fierce and excellent
own any weapon.
Gotarza hastened to carry out the order, and the king, turning to
manager said:
- Now, Bardiya, bring the leeches. Gotarza is right: it looks like the blade was
poisoned

Three days passed after the flight from Anshan. Conan sat cross-legged on
ground in the place where the path, in an intricate loop, crossed the mountain
ridge, overlooked the slope, at the foot of which lay the village of Kushaf.
“I will stand between you and death,” said the barbarian to the man sitting
on the contrary, just like you did when your mountain wolves almost missed us
cut.
His interlocutor tugged at his brown-spotted beard in thought. In his
mighty shoulders and powerful chest, one could sense gigantic strength, hair,
touched with gray hair in places, they talked about life experiences. The big picture
complemented by a wide belt, bristling with the hilts of daggers and short swords.
It was Balash himself, the leader of the local tribe and ruler of Kushaf, as well as
villages adjacent to it. Despite such a high position, his speech
sounded simple and restrained.
- The gods protect you! And yet no one escapes the turn,
for which he is destined for death.
- For your life you have to either fight or flee. The man is not
an apple to wait quietly until someone picks it and eats it. If
If you think you can still get along with the king, go to Anshan.
- I have too many enemies at court. They poured into the ears of the lord
a barrel of lies, and he won’t listen to me. They'll just hang me in the iron
cage for the kites to eat. No, I won't go to Anshan.
- Then look for other lands for the tribe. There is enough in these mountains
back streets where even the king cannot reach.
Balash glanced down at the village, surrounded by a wall of stone and
clay, with towers at regular intervals. His thin nostrils widened,
the eyes lit up with a dark flame, like an eagle’s over a nest with an eaglet.
- By Asura, no! My people have lived here since the time of Baram. Let
The king rules in Anshan, here I am the ruler!
“Kobad Shah can just as easily rule Kushaf,” he grumbled.
Tubal squatting behind Conan. Hattus sat on the left.
Balash turned his gaze to the east, where the outgoing path was lost between
rocks On their tops the wind tore pieces of white fabric - the clothes of archers, day
and the night of those guarding the passage in the mountains.
“Let him come,” said Balazs. - We will block the mountain paths.
- He will bring with him ten thousand heavily armed warriors with
catapults and siege engines,” Conan objected. - It will burn to the ground
Kushaf will take your head to Anshan.
“Let it be what will be,” Balazs answered.
Conan had difficulty suppressing the wave of anger caused by the stupid fatalism of this
person. All the instincts of the active nature of the Cimmerian rebelled against
philosophy of passive waiting. But since he and his squad found themselves in
trapped, I had to remain silent. He just looked unblinkingly to the west, where above
the sun hung in peaks - a ball of fire in the bright blue sky.
Pointing to the village, Balazs turned the conversation to another topic:
- Conan, I want to show you something. In that dilapidated hut
A dead man lies outside the wall. There have never been such people in Kushafa before.
saw. Even after death, there is something mysterious, evil in this body. To me
It even seems that this is not a person at all, but a demon. Let's go.
He walked down the path, talking as he went:
“My warriors came across him lying at the foot of a cliff. Was
it looks like he either fell from the top or was thrown from there. I ordered
carry him to the village, but on the way he died. In oblivion, everyone tried something
say, but his dialect is unfamiliar to us. The warriors decided that it was a demon, and
I suppose there are reasons for this.
On distance day's journey to the south, in the mountains, so barren and
impregnable, that even the mountain goat has not taken root in them, lies a country that
we call it Drujistan.
- Drujhistan! Conan echoed. - Country of demons!
- Yes. There, among the rocks and gorges, Evil lurks. The careful one avoids these
mountains side. The area seems lifeless, but someone is still there
dwells - people or spirits, I don’t know. Sometimes dead bodies are found on the trails
travelers, it happens that women and children disappear during transitions - that’s all
the work of demons. More than once, having noticed a vague shadow, we rushed in pursuit,
but each time the path was blocked by sheer smooth rocks, through which
Only the creatures of hell can pass through. Sometimes the echo brings the battle to us
drums or thunderous growls. From these sounds of the hearts of the bravest of
men are turned to ice. There is an old legend among my people that
says that thousands of years ago the ghoul lord Urra built in those mountains
a magical city called Janaidar and that the ghosts of Urra and his
subjects still live among the city ruins. According to another
legend, a thousand years ago the leader of the Ilbar mountaineers ordered the city to be rebuilt
again to turn it into your fortress. The work was already in full swing,
but in one night both the leader and his subjects disappeared, and since then no one has seen them
haven't seen it again...
Meanwhile they approached the hut. Balash opened the lopsided
door, and a minute later all four of them were leaning over and looking at
a body stretched out on the dirty floor.
The appearance of the deceased was indeed unusual, and therefore
alarming - the appearance of a stranger. Stocky figure with a wide flat
face and narrow slanted eyes, skin the color of dark copper - everything indicated
to a native of Khitai.
Coarse, clotted black hair on the back of the head and unnatural
twisted limbs indicated many fractures.
- Well, doesn't he look like a creature of Evil? - asked Balazs.
“This is not a demon,” Conan answered, “although during his life, perhaps,
and there was something like that. He is a Khitan - a native of a country located
far to the east of Hyrcania, beyond the mountains, deserts and jungles, such
so vast that even a dozen Iranistans could be lost in them. I drove through those
lands when he served under King Turan. But what kind of wind blew this guy
to us? Hard to say...
Suddenly his eyes flashed and he tore the stained
blood cape. A woolen shirt was revealed to their eyes, and Tubal,
looking over Conan's shoulder, could not hold back an exclamation of surprise:
shirt, embroidered with purple thread, could be seen unusual sign -
a human hand clutching the hilt of a dagger with a wavy blade. Drawing
was of such a rich color that at first glance it seemed bloody
spot.
- Dagger Jezma! - Balash whispered, retreating from this symbol of death
and destruction.
Everyone looked at Conan, who was staring intently at the ominous
emblem. The unusual sight awakened vague memories in him, and now,
straining his memory, he tried to reconstruct the whole
a picture of an ancient cult of worship of Evil. Finally, turning to Hattus,
He said:
- When I was stealing in Zamora, I remember hearing out of the corner of my ear
about some kind of cult of jezmites who use such a symbol. You're a freak
maybe you know about him?
Hattus shrugged.
- There are many cults that have their roots in the distant past.
past, to the time before the Great Upheaval. The rulers worked hard
to uproot them, but every time they sprouted again.

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A knife dreams of separation, quarrels and losses in business.

A rusty knife means dissatisfaction in family matters or a break with a loved one.

A sharp and polished knife foreshadows future worries, a broken one - the collapse of all hopes.

If you saw in a dream that you were wounded with a knife, get ready for domestic troubles and the machinations of enemies.

I dreamed that they rushed at someone with a knife - be careful not to best sides of your character.

If you dreamed of a knife lying on the table, then real life you are too afraid to meet new people. Apparently, one day you “got burned” very badly. Try not to be led by your own fear, and everything will work out.

If in a dream you saw that one of your friends was picking up a knife, then you are currently walking on the edge of what is permitted. For some reason, you think that no one around you notices this, but soon the consequences of your frivolous behavior will come.

I dreamed of a beautiful knife - in reality you will unexpectedly receive a gift, but not a harmless one, but with a catch.

If in a dream you cut something with a dull knife, then it’s time for your teenage complexes to outlive themselves a long time ago. Stop feeding subconscious fears, otherwise you will not get rid of your complexes.

If in a dream you lost a knife and cannot find it, then at present you are too tired.

If you bought a decorative knife in a store, in reality you always strive to control the situation. You want your spouse to always do only what you want.

And the Bulgarian soothsayer Vanga interpreted dreams about knives, which in her understanding are a symbol of enemies and betrayal, as follows.

In a dream, you were preparing dinner for your family and cut your hand with a knife - in reality, your loved ones will try to curb your character, but all this will develop into family squabbles and quarrels.

A dream in which a knife fell out of your hands means that an unfamiliar man is rushing into your house.

Seeing in a dream how someone stabs you in the back with a knife is a warning that in real life ill-wishers will try to deal you a treacherous blow from around the corner. Be careful.

In a dream, some mysterious stranger with a knife in his hand is trying to attack you - this dream promises you quick changes in your personal life.

In a dream, you hit someone with a knife and it became stained with the victim’s blood - in reality you will be haunted by misfortunes.

If in a dream you received a set of knives as a gift, then in reality you will be cruelly deceived.

Interpretation of dreams from the Psychological Dream Book

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K Onan may or may not have carried out his threat to burn the Dzhekhungir city of Khavaris, but in any case, the Cossacks and pirates he united became such a powerful threat that King Yezdegerd called together all the forces of the empire to destroy them. Turanian troops returned from the borders of the empire and defeated the Cossack army with one powerful attack. Some of the survivors went east to wild Hyrcania, others moved west to join the Zuagirians in the desert. Conan with a band of impressive size retreated south and, passing through the Illbar Mountains, entered the service of one of the strongest opponents of King Yezdegerd, Kobad Shah, King of Iranistan.

1. Blades in the Dark

The Cimmerian giant became wary: quick, careful steps were heard from the shadowed doorway. Conan turned and in the darkness of the arch saw a vague tall figure. The man rushed forward. In the wrong light, the Cimmerian managed to make out a bearded face, distorted with rage. Steel flashed in his raised hand. Conan dodged, and the knife, ripping open the cloak, slid along the light chain mail. Before the killer regained his balance, Conan grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and dealt a crushing blow to his enemy's neck with an iron fist. Without a sound, the man collapsed to the ground.

For some time Conan stood over the prone body, intently listening to the sounds of the night. Around the corner ahead, he heard the light sound of sandals, the faint clink of steel. These sounds made it clear that the night streets of Anshan were a direct road to death. Hesitatingly, he pulled the sword halfway out of its scabbard, but shrugged his shoulders and hurried back, staying away from the black arched gaps looking at him with empty eye sockets on both sides of the street.

He turned into a wider street and a few moments later was knocking on the door over which a pink lantern was burning. The door immediately opened. Conan stepped inside, abruptly saying:

Close it, quickly!

The huge Shemite, who met the Cimmerian, hung a heavy bolt and, without ceasing to twirl the rings of his blue-black beard on his fingers, looked intently at his boss.

2. Country of the Black Mountains

The uneven horizon in the mountain peaks was already covered in twilight when the guide pulled on the reins. The rocky ground in front of the travelers was torn by a deep canyon. On the other side, gloomy peaks were piled up, black peaks pierced the sky with their tips, breaks and gaps were everywhere - an unimaginable chaos of black stone.

“Drujhistan begins from here,” said the guide. - This is the Gorge of Ghosts. Beyond it lies the land of Death and Horror. I won't go any further.

Conan nodded. His eyes tried to find a path in the rugged slope leading to the bottom of the canyon. For many miles now they had been walking along an abandoned ancient road, but in places it seemed that Lately they used it.

Conan looked around. Next to him stood Tubal, Gattus, the guide and Nanaya, the former concubine of Kobad Shah's harem. The girl begged to take her with her because, as she said, she was afraid to be alone, away from the Cimmerian, among a tribe of savages whose dialect she did not understand. During the flight from Anshan, despite all the hardships of the journey, Conan did not hear even a layer of complaint from her and therefore agreed with her arguments.

You see for yourself,” the guide spoke again, “demons are walking along the road again.” This is the way they get out of their Black Country, and they are returned to it. But people who leave the gorge never return.

Robert Howard

Sprague de Camp

FIRE KNIFE

1. Blades in the Dark

He turned into a wider street and a few moments later was knocking on the door over which a pink lantern was burning. The door immediately opened. Conan stepped inside, abruptly saying:

Close it, quickly!

The huge Shemite, who met the Cimmerian, hung a heavy bolt and, without ceasing to twirl the rings of his blue-black beard on his fingers, looked intently at his boss.

There's blood on your shirt! - he muttered.

“I was almost stabbed,” Conan replied. “I dealt with the killer, but his friends were waiting in ambush.”

The Shemite's eyes sparkled, his muscular, hairy hand lay on the hilt of a three-foot Ilbar dagger.

Maybe we can make a sortie and slaughter these dogs? - the Shemit suggested in a voice trembling with rage.

Conan shook his head. He was a warrior of enormous stature, a real giant, but despite his power, his movements were light, like those of a cat. The broad chest, bullish neck and square shoulders spoke of the strength and endurance of the barbarian savage.

There are more important things to do,” he said. - These are the enemies of Balash. They already know that this evening I had a fight with the king.

Yah! - exclaimed the Shemite. - This is really bad news. And what did the king tell you?

Conan took the flask of wine and drained almost half of it in a few sips.

“Oh, Kobad Shah is obsessed with suspicion,” he said contemptuously. - So, now it’s our friend Balash’s turn. The leader’s enemies turned the king against him, but Balash became stubborn. He is in no hurry to confess because, he says, Kobad planned to put his head on a pike. So Kobad ordered me and the Cossacks to go to the Ilbar Mountains and deliver Balash to him - if possible entirely, and in any case - the head.

I refused.

Refused?! - The Shemite took his breath away.

Certainly! Who do you take me for? I told Kobad Shah how Balash and his tribe saved us from certain death when we were lost in the depths of winter in the Ilbar Mountains. We then walked south of the Vilayet Sea, remember? And if it weren’t for Balash, we would probably have been killed by the mountaineer tribes. But this cretin Kobad didn’t even listen to the end. He began yelling about his divine right, about the insult to his royal majesty by the despicable barbarian, and much more. I swear, another minute and I would have shoved his imperial turban down his throat!

I hope you have enough sense not to touch the king?

That's enough, don't shake. Although I was burning with the desire to teach him a lesson. Great Crom! For the life of me, I don’t understand: how can you, civilized people, crawl on your belly in front of a copper-faced donkey, who, by the will of a blind chance, put a gold trinket on his head and, perched on a chair with diamonds, imagines himself to be God knows what!

Yes, because this donkey, as you deigned to put it, with one movement of his finger can tear off our skin or impale us. And now, in order to avoid the royal wrath, we will have to flee Iranistan.

Conan finished the wine from the flask and licked his lips.

I think this is unnecessary. Kobad Shah will get mad and calm down. He must understand that now his army is no longer what it was during the heyday of the empire. Now his striking force is light cavalry, that is, us. But still, Balash’s disgrace has not been lifted. I’m tempted to drop everything and rush north to warn him about the danger.

Are you really going to go alone?

Why not? You'll start a rumor that I'm sleeping off after another binge. A few days will be enough for everything, and then...

A light knock on the door cut Conan off mid-sentence. The Cimmerian glanced quickly at the Shemite and, stepping towards the door, growled:

Who else is there?

Conan looked at his comrade.

What kind of Nanaya? Don't you know, Tubal?

No. What if this is their trick?

Let me in! - the plaintive voice was heard again.

“Now we’ll see,” Conan said quietly but decisively, and his eyes flashed. He unsheathed his sword and put his hand on the bolt. Tubal, armed with a dagger, stood on the other side of the door.

With a sharp movement, Conan pulled out the bolt and opened the door. A woman in a veil stepped across the threshold, but immediately, with a weak cry at the sight of the blades sparkling in her muscular hands, she stepped back.

In a lightning-quick lunge, Conan turned the weapon - and the tip of the sword touched the back of the unexpected guest.

Come in, lady,” Conan muttered in Hyrcanian with a terrible barbaric accent.

The woman stepped forward. Conan slammed the door and bolted it.

You are alone?

Y-yes. All alone…

Conan quickly threw his hand forward and tore the veil from the face of the newcomer. A girl stood in front of him - tall, flexible, dark. Black hair and graceful, chiseled features captivated the eye.

So, Nanaya, what does this all mean?

I am a concubine from the royal seraglio... - she began.

Tubal whistled:

The girl spoke again:

I often watched you through the patterned lattice behind the royal throne, when you and Kobad Shah conferred in private. The king is pleased when his women see their ruler busy with state affairs. Usually, when important issues are being resolved, we are not allowed into the gallery, but this evening the eunuch Khatrite got drunk and forgot to lock the door leading from the women's quarters to the gallery. I snuck there and overheard your conversation with the Shah. You spoke very harshly.

When you left, Kobad was seething with rage. He called Khakamani, the head of the secret service, and ordered him to finish you off without making a fuss. Hakamani had to make sure that everything looked like an ordinary accident.

Conan - 30

1. BLADES IN THE DARKNESS

He turned into a wider street and a few moments later was knocking on the door over which a pink lantern was burning. The door immediately opened. Conan stepped inside, abruptly saying:

Close it, quickly!

The huge Shemite, who met the Cimmerian, hung a heavy bolt and, without ceasing to twirl the rings of his blue-black beard on his fingers, looked intently at his boss.

There's blood on your shirt! - he muttered.

“I was almost stabbed,” Conan replied. “I dealt with the killer, but his friends were waiting in ambush.”

The Shemite's eyes sparkled, his muscular, hairy hand lay on the hilt of a three-foot Ilbar dagger.

Maybe we can make a sortie and slaughter these dogs? - the Shemit suggested in a voice trembling with rage.

There are more important things to do,” he said. - These are the enemies of Balash. They already know that this evening I had a fight with the king.

Yah! - exclaimed the Shemite. - This is really bad news. And what did the king tell you?

Conan took the flask of wine and drained almost half of it in a few sips.

I refused.

Refused?! - The Shemite took his breath away.

I hope you have enough sense not to touch the king?

That's enough, don't shake. Although I was burning with the desire to teach him a lesson.