"Adkins, Patrick H - Titans 01 - Lord of the Crooked Path" - читать интересную книгу автора (Adkins Patrick H)

their bodies and they smell dreadful. I can smell them from here."

"Are they really little?" Metis asked. "I mean, is that their natural
size?"

"I think so. That's how they looked yesterday."

Thalia was studying them, her brows contracted in thought. "Dirty,
smelly little gods," she said finally as she turned toward the others.

"I think they're cute," Metis objected.

"Filthy, hairy little creatures formed in the image of the immortal
gods. Grotesque little godlings, caricatures of the gods--mockeries of
the gods!" Thalia's eyes brightened and

her lips spread into an enormous grin. "And not a female among them. I
love it! It's hilarious!"

Metis was pouting. "I still say they're cute," she insisted. "All they
need is a good bath."

"Look at the one over there," Thalia continued, pointing. "See* how he
walks, watching the ground. He looks like Crios, and the one next to him
could be Koios! Oh, this is a marvelous joke. The gods will never live
it down."

"There's something about, them. . . ." Lachesis said thoughtfully.

"Indeed there is--their odor!" Thalia laughed.

"Quiet," Melpomene warned. "They'll hear us. Keep your voices down."

One of the creatures was wandering toward them in search of acorns. Even
as Melpomene spoke it looked up through an opening in the concealing
leaves and branches. Its eyes grew very round and it began to cry out in
shrill, inarticulate sounds. Kalliope reached for it between the trees.
The creature stumbled backward, falling, and she picked it up by the
feet.

At the first cry the others had disappeared among the rocks and trees
and bushes. Now not one remained in sight.

Melpomene rose to her full height and the others stood up around her.
They gathered to look at the specimen Kalliope had captured. It wriggled
like a fish held by the tail, but as soon as it noticed their huge,
peering faces, it became completely limp.

For nearly a full minute Melpomene stared at it, her head arched to one
side. Finally she said, "Man."