"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 19 - Roc and a Hard Place" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

delirious to think of the stork. But how could it fail to get
the messages?"

"That is precisely what Metria wants to know," Mentia
said. ' 'Whatever could be wrong with her to bomb so badly
in so many attempts? Whatever could make her such a sore
loser? Especially when I could so readily haveЧ"

"Nuh-uh!" Metria and Veleno said together.

"So she sent me to .ask the most intelligent creature she
knows, the Demon Grossclout, for advice," Mentia contin-
ued without concern, "and he instantly delegated me to con-
vey that essential advice to her. Naturally I delayed not half
a whit to honor that stricture. Her failing is simply too serious
to permit any delay."




6 PIERS ANTHONY

"Thank you so much, Worser," Metria snarled.

"You are so welcome. Better. I knew you would want to
attend to your washout without delay." Mentia's form
fuzzed, and assumed the likeness of a giant lemon, then a
cooked turkey. "I am thrilled to have been of so much help."

"You haven't been of much help yet," Metria said grimly.
"What did Grossclout say7'

' 'Oh, that. He says you should go ask Good Magician
Humfrey."

"But Humfrey charges a year's service for a single An-
swer!" Metria protested. "I don't want to pay that! That's
why I went to Grossclout."

"Grossclout did add a few words," Mentia said. "I be-
lieve those words were mush-head, cheapskate, and serve her
right;'

"That's Grossclout, all right," Metria agreed. "He still
holds a grudge just because I chose to sand my nails in his
dull magic classes at Demon U."

"Actually, that was I who did that," Mentia said, smiling
reminiscently. "Back when we were inextricably bound to-
gether as alternate aspects of a single demoness. Those were