Алая чума
Chapter 1
Hisarmsandlegs,witheredandskinny,betokenedextremeage,aswellasdidtheirsunburnandscarsandscratchesbetokenlongyearsofexposuretotheelements.
Theboy,wholedtheway,checkingtheeagernessofhismusclestotheslowprogressoftheelder,likewiseworeasinglegarment—aragged-edgedpieceofbear-skin,withaholeinthemiddlethroughwhichhehadthrusthishead. Hecouldnothavebeenmorethantwelveyearsold. Tuckedcoquettishlyoveroneearwasthefreshlyseveredtailofapig. Inonehandhecarriedamedium-sizedbowandanarrow.
Onhisbackwasaquiverfulofarrows.Fromasheathhangingabouthisneckonathong,projectedthebatteredhandleofahuntingknife. Hewasasbrownasaberry,andwalkedsoftly,withalmostacatliketread. Inmarkedcontrastwithhissunburnedskinwerehiseyes—blue,deepblue,butkeenandsharpasapairofgimlets. Theyseemedtoboreintoaftabouthiminawaythatwashabitual. Ashewentalonghesmelledthings,aswell,hisdistended,quiveringnostrilscarryingtohisbrainanendlessseriesofmessagesfromtheoutsideworld. Also,hishearingwasacute,andhadbeensotrainedthatitoperatedautomatically.
