Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight 03 by Gordon R. Dickson

Author:Gordon R. Dickson
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The hut, when they got inside it, proved to be a rude shelter indeed.

It was no more than a door, four walls and a roof; with a smoke hole in the ceiling above a firepit in the earthen floor beneath.

It was filthy, and it stank-things Jim had gotten used to in dwellings on this world a great deal grander than this- including some castles he had been in. However, some months without an occupant had lessened the stink, which was a combination of human body odors, raw cattle hides, and half a dozen other nameless smells. And the filth was dirt only. Jim considered them lucky. The place could have had far more repellent substances about its floor than that.

They tied their horses to stakes set in the clay wall of the hut for that purpose, and carried the gear inside. Lachlan’s first step was to use a good length of rope to hobble the feet of Ewen MacDougall.

The MacDougall clan chief had been silent through most of the trip. He seemed to have lost his immediate first terror at learning that it was Jim who had made him prisoner. But he was obviously still cautious; and further, plainly intended to give away nothing. He answered only when a direct question was addressed to him, as a demand.

They got a fire going in the firepit, and luckily there was enough of a breeze above them so that most of its smoke was drawn out the smoke hole. With eyes watering only slightly, they settled themselves as close to the fire as possible and began to make a meal out of the meat and bread they had along with them. At Jim’s order, they shared it with MacDougall; although Lachlan protested that this was a waste of good provender.

However, with the food down, Jim began to make an effort to talk to MacDougall.

“M’Lord Viscount,” he said, blinking against the smoke of the fire, at Ewen MacDougall who was also blinking, “a little discussion between us will help us both. Now I know why you were headed as you were; and why you were carrying the gold you had with you. I know all about your plans. As it happens, they won’t work. They’ll end in ashes, like a house that’s caught fire. But how much you’re hurt by them

will depend on how much you’re willing to talk with me and work with me.”

He waited, but MacDougall said nothing.

“Well?” demanded Jim. “Do you intend to talk openly with me, or not?”

“Och, ye’re wasting time on the man!” said Lachlan disgustedly. “He hasn’t the wit to understand what ye tell him. He still thinks it’s a mighty thing he’s doing; and his honor won’t permit him to say a word.”

“That can’t be so,” said Jim, keeping his tone as conciliatory as possible as he watched MacDougall.

“Wait and see!” said Lachlan. He opened the door of the hut and stamped outside, apparently indifferent to the fact that the moon was not even up and there was little to do outside there except take care of bodily necessities.

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