Down Among the Dead Men by Simon R Green

Author:Simon R Green
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Hawk and Fisher, Fantasy, Horror, Forest Kingdom, FForest Kingdom
ISBN: 9780575056206
Publisher: Gollancz
Published: 1993-08-14T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

* * *

Dangers Seen and Unseen

Hammer and Wilde were already sound asleep. The noise of the storm was a long way off, and the small annex was warm and dry and peaceful. Jack leaned back against the rough stone wall and fought back a yawn. He knew it was asking for trouble for all three of them to fall asleep, but it had been a long, hard day, and his eyes were closing in spite of himself. Sleep settled slowly about him like an old familiar blanket. The torch crackled quietly in its wall holder, and the gold and amber light was pleasantly peaceful. Jack stretched slowly, easing his tired muscles. For the first time since he’d entered the border fort he felt comfortable and at peace. If he’d been a little less sleepy he would have found that worrying, but as it was the thought passed briefly through his mind without disturbing him. Hammer murmured something and shifted in his chair, but didn’t waken. Wilde breathed noisily through his mouth. Jack’s eyes closed, and his chin sank forward onto his chest. The three outlaws sank slowly deeper into sleep.

And dreamed.

Jonathon Hammer ran through the Forest, sword in hand. His boots thudded loudly on the packed earth of the beaten trail as he forced himself on despite his heaving chest and aching legs. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been running, but he knew he couldn’t keep going much longer. He looked quickly about him, blinking furiously as sweat ran down his forehead and into his eyes. The tall trees stretched away in every direction, blending into a featureless mass of shadow and greenery and dappled light. He stumbled to a halt, gasping for breath, and leaned against a wide tree trunk for support. Being chased by half a dozen guards was bad enough, but having to run in full chain mail was adding insult to injury.

He considered taking it off and dumping it, but reluctantly decided he didn’t have the time. The guards couldn’t be more than a few minutes behind him, rot their souls. He’d been careful to stick to the narrow and more obscure Forest trails so that they couldn’t come after him on horseback, but even so he hadn’t been able to lose his pursuers. Someone among them must know this part of the Forest as well as he did.

Hammer shook his head disgustedly and waited impatiently for his breathing to settle. He wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve, and flexed his aching muscles. He couldn’t afford to stiffen up; a cramp or a stitch at the wrong moment could get him killed. Hammer held his breath and listened carefully. He couldn’t hold it for long in his exhausted state, but as far as he could tell he was safe for the moment. The only sounds he could hear were the normal Forest sounds of wind and bird and animal. Hammer glared about him, and wondered what to do next.

In the beginning, it had all seemed so simple.

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