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Roger Zelazny. Sign of chaos
Atec Ноябрь 07 2007 02:48:28
Книга только для ознакомления
."
"True."
I placed my left arm about her shoulders, thought of her deadly bite,
stepped back, and held her at arm's distance with the one hand.
"If she bites me, it will knock me out almost instantly," I said. "Be
ready to defend yourself quickly if this occurs."
Mandor tossed another metal ball into the air. It hung there for an
unnaturally long moment at the top of its arc, then dropped back to his
hand.
"All right," I said, and then I spoke the words that raised the spell.
Nothing as dramatic as I'd feared ensued. She slumped and I supported
her. "You're safe," I said, and added, "Rinaldo knows you're here," to
invoke the most familiar. "Here's a chair. Do you want some water?"
"Yes," she replied, and I poured some and passed it to her.
Her eyes were darting, taking in everything as she drank. I wondered
whether she'd recovered instantly and might not now be stalling for time as
she sipped, her mind racing, spells dancing at her fingertips. Her eyes
returned more than once to Mandor, appraising, though she gave Nayda a long,
hard stare.
Finally, she lowered the goblet and smiled.
"I take it, Merlin, that I am your prisoner," she said, choking
slightly. She took another sip.
"Guest," I replied.
"Oh? How did this come about? Accepting the invitation escapes my
mind."
"I brought you here frem the citadel at the Keep of the Four Worlds in
a somewhat cataleptic condition," I said
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