"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 16 - Demons Don't Dream" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

Then I'll try not to get eaten," he said gallantly. "Is there any good way to discourage dragons?"

That depends on the dragon. I will be able to back off a small one. But a large oneЧit is better simply to hide."

"Aren't mere any repellents, or weapons, or whatever? So I could travel prepared?"

There may be, if you are clever enough to find mem. This is one of my liabilities: I do not know very much about human weapons, or how to use mem. If you wish to exchange me for a Companion who does, such as Horace CentaurЧ"

"No thanks. I'll try to make do on my own." Dug looked around. "Is mere a town nearby, where we might get weapons or supplies? That might be our first stop."

There is Isthmus Village. I could take you there. But the people are not friendly to strangers. It might be better to avoid it There are fruit and nut trees, and egg rolls, and pie plants, so food will be no problem, and perhaps you could prepare a staff or cudgel for your defense."

Bat Dug was feeling ornery. "No, let's try Isthmus VH-lage first That's a funny name; why is it called that?" - Nada bent down to sketch a map in the dirt in the center

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of the glade. Dug caught a compelling glimpse down her front, and wisely gave no sign, though he feared his eyeballs were about to bulge out of their sockets. Talk of three-dimensional effects! "This is the general outline of Xanth," she said. "This is where we are, at the edge of the isthmus. Here is the village a little farther along. It derives its name from its location."

Dug tore his errant eyes away from her d6colletage long enough to glance at the map. "Why, that's the state of Florida!" he said, surprised, "You mean we're in the Florida panhandle?"

"If that is what you call it. It is the main route to and from Mundania, which is why we meet Mundanes here. But this is not your Mundane state. This is Xanth, and you must remember mat, because there are things here you are unlikely to find in Mundania."

He had been glimpsing some of them, but of course he couldn't admit it "Good enough. Let's get moving."

She straightened up, nodding. She stared to walk to the edge of the glade, and it was evident that he was walking with her, because the scene shifted with his motion. This should be interesting, if only because of its realism. He didn't care about the prize; he just wanted to stay hi the scene.

OGRE FEN

Jenny Elf waited nervously in the chamber reserved for the prospective Companions. Sammy Cat, unconcerned, snoozed in her lap. She had to serve a year for the Good Magician Humfrey, because she had asked him a Question and gotten an Answer. But he had sent her to the Demon Professor Grossclout instead, and now she was part of this weird game for Mundanes. Why the demons wanted to run a game for Mundanes only the demons knew, but she was obliged to play her part.

Nada Naga had just left, being chosen as a Companion by a Mundane Player. That left the Demoness Metria, the skeleton Marrow Bones, the zombie Horace Centaur, and tfae polite Goody Goblin. In a moment a new person arrived, to fill the vacated space hi the roster. She was a woman just about as beautiful and well endowed as Nada. She wore a gown as brown as the bark of a tree, and her hair was as green as foliage.

"Hello," the woman said. "Is this the Companions* denr x; The others sent glances around, but none of them con-

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nected. Jenny realized that it was up to her to answer. "Yes it is. Come and join us. I'm Jenny Elf, here to serve out my service for the Good Magician."

The woman stepped inside. "I am Vida Vila, a nature nymph. I owed Professor Grossclout a favor." She took a

seat.

"Vida Vila," the skeleton exclaimed. "We have met before. I am Marrow Bones. I brought Prince Dolph through your region several years ago."

Vida nodded. "I thought you looked familiar. But I am not good with skeletons; they all look alike to me. That prince must be about grown by now."

"Yes. He married Electra, and they have twins." "Oh, pooh!" Vida said, dispirited. That was impressive, because for that instant she became a growly bear. But she quickly reverted. "I hoped to marry him myself, when he got old enough. Princes don't grow on trees, you know, or I would have grown my own."

NOW HEAR THIS, a disembodied voice blared. IT IS TIME FOR THE SELECTION OF THE FALSE COMPANION.