THE OUTLAND

127

Mekon also knew these, so he was almost not frightened - you know, he made a gesture mechanically driving away evil spirits, but froze. Kikimors, if they start complaining, remember your name. They will drag it away, drag it into the water, drown it ... And in a couple of days they will feast on a swollen drowned man.

Holding his breath, step by step, he backed away, back to the already seemingly less dangerous path. All these horsemen, soldiers, fighters, slave traders were now such simple and understandable guys! Well, they'll kick me once for warning, well, they'll take me to the nearest fortress for trial - either to Customs or to Huerta Moi. They won't kill or drown. After all, yes?

Under the foot was a familiar stone, and from somewhere, no one knows where, came a familiar condescending chuckle. The spider is playing around, who else. And the beach slowly calmed down, kikimoras buried themselves in the sand, leaving behind a texture up to bizarre winding traces of the wind. Soon