The Moon of Gomrath. Alan Garner
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Название: The Moon of Gomrath

Автор: Alan Garner

Издательство: HarperCollins

Жанр: Детская проза

Серия:

isbn: 9780007539048

isbn:

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       For Adam, Ellen & Katherine

       CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

       Dedication

       Epigraph

       7. Old Magic

       8. Shining Tor

       9. The Horsemen of Donn

       10. Lord of the Herlathing

       11. The Dale of Goyt

       12. The Mere

       13. The Bodach

       14. The Wild Hunt

       15. Errwood

       16. The Howl of Ossar

       17. The Witch-brand

       18. The Dolorous Blow

       19. The Children of Danu

       20. The Last Ride

       Notes

       Praise

       Also by the Author

       Copyright

       About the Publisher

      “And for to passe the tyme thys book shal be plesaunte to rede in, but for to gyve fayth and byleve that al is trewe that is conteyned herein, yet be at your lyberté.”

      WILLIAM CAXTON

      31 JULY 1485

       THE ELVES OF SINADON

      It was bleak on Mottram road under the Edge, the wooded hill of Alderley. Trees roared high in the darkness. If any people had cause to be out in the night, they kept their heads deep in their collars, and their faces screwed blindly against the Pennine wind. And it was as well they did, for among the trees something was happening that was not meant for human eyes.

      From a rib of the Edge a shaft of blue light cut the darkness. It came from a narrow opening in a high, tooth-shaped rock, and within the opening was a pair of iron gates thrown wide, and beyond them a tunnel. Shadows moved on the trees as a strange procession entered through the gates and down into the hill.

      They were a small people, not more than four feet high, deep-chested, with narrow waists, and long, slender arms and legs. They wore short tunics, belted and sleeveless, and their feet were bare. Some had cloaks of white eagle feathers, though these were marks of rank rather than a protection. They carried deeply curved bows, and from their belts hung on one side quivers of white arrows, and on the other broad stabbing swords. Each rode a small white horse, and some sat proudly erect, though most drooped over the pommels of their saddles, and a few lay irrevocably still across their horses’ necks, and the reins were held by others. All together they numbered close on five hundred.

      Beside the iron gates stood an old man. He was very tall, and thin as a young birch tree. His white robes, and long white hair and beard flew with the gale, and he held a white staff in his hand.

      Slowly the horsemen filed through the gates into the glimmering tunnel, and when they were all inside, the old man turned, and followed them. The iron gates swung shut behind him, and there was just a bare rock in the wind.

      In this way the elves of Sinadon came unnoticed to Fundindelve, last stronghold of the High Magic in our days, and were met by Cadellin Silverbrow, a great wizard, and guardian of the secret places of the Edge.

       THE WELL

      “Eh up,” said Gowther Mossock, “what’s this?”

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