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Roger Zelazny. Sign of chaos
Atec Ноябрь 07 2007 02:48:28
Книга только для ознакомления
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"No, I mean that if you are what I think you really are, I'm asking the
big question: Why?"
Frakir began to pulse upon my wrist.
Coral was silent for the space of an audible deep breath, then, "How
could you tell?"
"You betrayed yourself in small ways discernible only to one who has
recently become paranoid," I responded.
"Magic," she said. "Is that it?"
"It's about to be," I replied. "I could almost miss you, but I can't
trust you."
I spoke the guide words to the spell, letting them draw my hands
smoothly through the appropriate gestures. There followed two horrible
shrieks, and then a third.
But they weren't hers. They came from around the corner in the
passageway we had recently quitted.
"What-?" she began.
"-the hell! " I finished; and I rushed past her and rounded the corner,
drawing my blade as I went.
Backlighted by the distant cavemouth I beheld three
figures on the floor of the cave. Two of them were sprawled and
unmoving. The third was seated and bent forward, , cursing. I advanced
slowly, the point of my weapon directed toward the seated one. His shadowy
head turned in my direction, and he climbed to his feet, still bent forward.
He clutched his left hand with his right, and he backed away until he came
into contact with the wall.
He halted there, muttering something I could not quite hear
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