Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 21
Ourgoatsandshorthornsatethethatchofthehouses,andwe,eretheend,atethegoatsandtheshorthorns.
Wheretherehadbeenfivemenofusonthewall,therecameatimewhentherewasone;wheretherehadbeenhalfathousandbabesandyounglingsofours,therewerenone.ItwasNuhila,mywoman,whocutoffherhairandtwisteditthatImighthaveastrongstringformybow.Theotherwomendidlikewise,andwhenthewallwasattacked,stoodshouldertoshoulderwithus,inthemidstofourspearsandarrowsrainingdownpotsherdsandcobblestonesontheheadsoftheSnub-Noses.
EventhepatientSnub-Noseswewell-nighout-patienced.Cameatimewhenoftenmenofus,butonewasaliveonthewall,andofourwomenremainedveryfew,andtheSnub-Nosesheldparley.Theytolduswewereastrongbreed,andthatourwomenweremen-mothers,andthatifwewouldletthemhaveourwomentheywouldleaveusaloneinthevalleytopossessforourselvesandthatwecouldgetwomenfromthevalleystothesouth.
AndNuhilasaidno.Andtheotherwomensaidno.AndwesneeredattheSnub-Nosesandaskediftheywerewearyoffighting.Andwewereasdeadmenthen,aswesneeredatourenemies,andtherewaslittlefightleftinusweweresoweak.Onemoreattackonthewallwouldendus.Weknewit.Ourwomenknewit.AndNuhilasaidthatwecouldenditfirstandoutwittheSnub-Noses.Andallourwomenagreed.
