"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 12 - Man from Mundania" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

this time.

Just before the slow-moving giant came into sight (as it
were), they reached the cave and plunged in. It was dark,
but in a moment a light showed deeper inside, so of course
they went toward it. Soon they were in Com-Pewter's main
chamber.

There he was: an odd collection of wires and colored
metalware, with a big glassy screen sitting up in the center.
Words appeared on this screen, written in light:

G&EETWGS, GIRLS.

Man from Mundania 9

The three tittered uncertainly. Ivy put her finger to her
mouth as if nervous, which really was not much of an
exaggeration. "What is that?" she asked, staring at the
screen.

l AM COM-PEWTER, YOUR HOST, the screen said. TO

WHAT DO I OWE THE HONOR OF THIS VISIT, PRINCESS IVY?

So much for secrecy! Ivy decided to get right on with
it. "I have come for the magic mirror you stole from Cas-
tle Roogna."

i STOLE NO MIRROR! the screen printed angrily, i WON
IT.

"You stole it!" Ivy retorted. "And I want it back!"

DID NOT! the screen replied.

"Did too!"

DID NOT!

Ivy realized that Com-Pewter, who was of the techno-
logical persuasion, could continue this argument forever.
Machines were like golems: it didn't bother them to repeat
things indefinitely. Ivy, being just about grown-up (except
for the matter of a boyfriend), could no longer indulge in
such activity; it wasn't dignified.

"You lured a traveler here, who was using the mirror
with my father's permission, and you only let him go be-
cause he left the mirror," Ivy said stoutly.