"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 15 - The Color Of Her Panties" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

Nimbus, the meanest of clouds. But since she had nothing either to gain
or fear from a cloud, she ignored Fracto, and he ignored her.

Then she saw something strange. It was a little red boat, zooming along
backwards, rowed by a very big man. No, by a very small giant. No,
something even odder. But what?

"Fascinating," Metria said, and faded out.

That surely meant trouble. But it just might be a ruse.

If this was someone who could help her cross the lake, the demoness
might be trying to scare her away, so that she would after all be
stranded. So she couldn't be sure.

The best thing to do was chance it. If she got into the boat with the
man, and he tried to get fresh-how she hated freshness!-she could always
jump into the water, loathsome as it was, and escape. So she waited.
But she took the precaution of hiding behind some redberry bushes.

The boat plowed right on toward the shore not far distant. The rower
didn't seem to realize. He banged right into the bank, and grunted as
the boat suddenly stopped.

"Oh, everything's wrong!" he cried in a high voice. "I'll never find
the Good Magician!"

Mela's ears perked up. He was looking for the Good Magician? This
could be a wonderful break!

She stepped forward. "Hello," she said brightly.

The stranger jumped right into the air and screamed, bursting into
tears. Startled, Mela fell back into the bushes, scratching her
nevermind. "Well, I didn't mean any harm," she said, nettled. "I just
happen to be looking for the Good Magician myself, and I wondered-" She
broke off, staring at the huge creature. "Why, you're not a man at all!
You're a-well, just what are you?"

"I'm an ogre girl," the other responded. "You frightened me."

But they're very strong, ugly and stupid, and justifiably proud of it.
You're-"

A very poor excuse for an ogress," the other said. "I can't even crunch
bones very well."

Mela decided to let that pass. "Do you think you might row me across
the lake? I think the Good Magician is somewhere on the other side."