Читать книгу The story of how an ant searched for Mother Death to become happy - Ар'лан ис'Дрекхэм - Страница 3

He did not ask Kochivorob where to go, and chose to walk toward the sunset. If he failed to find Death, he told himself, he would reach the theatre at last — and there he would show them the full measure of his talent.

Long or short the journey proved — fields, forests, seas — he wandered, sparing neither strength nor heart. Along the way he met many ants all received him with honors and generous feasts. They begged him to stay and perform in their theatres, to bring joy to towns both great and small, offering folk adoration, honors, and the comforts of ant life. But with every step Rimudalv’s hunger for worldwide fame only grew.

Days and nights blurred into one another until he lost the count. He paused to rest and ponder how to find Death and when to ask his wish. At last he decided that Death must come to him he would feign the brink of dying, and then speak with her. So he broke twigs and stacked them one upon another, building a small heap under which he could stand and — at the right moment — give a push with his leg so the weight would fall and crush him. The important thing, he thought, was to speak with Death before he was merely reduced to a flattened shell.

— Now then, now then — what is this audacious little ant, breaking twigs and hunting for an untimely death?

Before Rimudalv stood a lady of indeterminate age, the sort who did not belong to any ant-household: she wore unusually long whiskers for an ant, an outfit of bright yet mismatched fabrics, new boots, and a feathered hat. At the sight of her Rimudalv’s heart began to tumble his legs wobbled and his feelers curled inward. -It must be Death, he thought, and, gathering the last of his courage, spoke in a small voice:

— I was looking for you.

— For me?! How intriguing, the stranger feigned surprise, as if she had never expected such an admission.

— Yes. I walked a long way, so I resorted to a trick.

— Breaking twigs?