Across the Face of the World Read Online Free PDF Page A

little, but we won't have much time before it comes down again, and from the north this time. Ready?'
    Leith nodded, though he wasn't sure what was meant. Was the old man going to walk home with him? He followed the farmer outside. It was noticeably lighter and the rain sifted straight down, swirled about only occasionally by the wind. Through the barn they went, pausing for a moment to relight the torch. Another torch at the far end of the barn illuminated the stalls, and in the flickering light the farmer busied himself finding saddle and bridle. The horses began to stamp and chafe, seemingly realising that their master wished to ride. Leith felt warm breath on the back of his neck, then a nuzzling from behind. He turned around to see a long face towering above him. With surprise and pleasure, he caressed the horse's head.
    The old man led out a bay mare from the hindmost stall, patting ber muzzle and whispering to her all the while. Outside in the late afternoon calmness the farmer mounted easily, pulled the boy up behind him and set the mare off at a brisk walk. Leith was going to arrive home in style.
    The excited youth travelled in an unreal world high above the rurf. The horse trotted much faster than Leith could run, and for a long time he watched the ground moving backwards underneath him. Glancing to the left, he noticed that dusk was spreading from the north with alarming rapidity. Onto the Westway they rode, turning athwart the breeze that grew stronger moment by moment.

    A mile or so east to the village, thought Leith. Maybe five minutes more before we arrive home.
    'Tell me, boy,' the old man shouted over his shoulder, 'why do they call it the Westway when it only goes east?' and he laughed as he drew his hood over his face. Peering out from behind the thin, hunched figure, Leith felt the cutting wind and saw the inky blackness to his right before he heard the howling in the air.
    'Head down, boy!' the farmer grated, pushing him back roughly. 'The Icewind is here.'
    They arrived at the village in the face of the Iskeluien storm. Here and there a chink of light showed through shuttered windows. The wind whipped down empty streets, snatching at dead leaves and piling them against bolted doors, howling its displeasure at being shut out of warm rooms. Up the muddy road came a horse hard ridden, with two figures crouching low on its back. The larger figure reined in the sweat-lathered mare in front of a small house at the end of the lane, dismounted and helped the smaller figure to the ground. While the man led the horse round to the lee of the building and tended it, the boy banged a few times on the door.
    Soon it swung open and the sudden light swallowed the two figures. The wind gathered, then sprang down the lane a fraction too late, succeeding only in slamming the door shut behind them.
    Inside, cloaks came off and cold hands and feet were stretched out close to the crackling fire.
    The man and the boy leaned towards the flames, for the moment oblivious to the others in the room.
    'Get them something hot, please,' Indrett said to Hal. As the cripple limped away, his mother walked slowly towards the fire. She waited for the warmth to do its work.
    'You're not going home tonight,' she said firmly to the old man.
    'No, girl, I'm not. I'll just be off to the Haufuth's house for the night, and in the morning ...'
    'Oh no, you're not. You'll stay right here in this room near the fire. If this is a real Deep White, then you might never make it to the other end of the lane.'
    He turned on her with a scowl. 'So you're giving me advice, are you now? I suppose you learned snowcraft in the streets of Rammr, did you? You wouldn't have known what snow was until you came here, girl. I've survived nights in the open, rounded up my herd in a blizzard...' The old man spluttered to a stop.
    Indrett put on her most contrite expression. 'You're right, and I'm sorry. I don't have your experience. But I would worry if you left now, I