"Anthony, Piers - Adept - 03 - Juxtaposition" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

4 juxtaposition

world of magic could have magical dangers and he had no
notion how to cope with that sort of thing. Presumably
this equine would protect him in much the way Stile's
distaff robot protected him in Proton; stiU, Clef felt ner-
vous.

Then, abruptly, the unicorn became a petite young
woman, wearing a simple black dress and white slippers.
She was small, even smaller than Stile, with lustrous black
hair that reminded him of the mane or tail ofЧ

Of course! This was, after all, the same creature, in a
different shape. She even had a snub-hom in her forehead,
and her shoes somehow resembled hooves, for their slipper
tops tied into thick, sturdy soles.

"Stile is getting married," Neysa said. There was the
suggestion of harmonica music in her voice. "I must go
there. I will summon a werewolf to guide thee."

"A werewolf 1" Clef exclaimed, horrified.

But the girl was a unicorn again. She blew a loud blast
on her horn.

Faintly, there was an answering baying. Now Neysa
played a brief harmonica tune. There was a responding
yip, much closer. She changed back into the girl. Clef tried
to ascertain how she did that, but it was too quick; she
seemed simply to phase from one form to the other with
no intermediate steps. Perhaps that was why this frame
was called PhazeЧpeople phased from one form to an-
other, or from nudity to attire, or from place to place.

"A bitch is coming," Neysa said, startling Clef again; he
had not expected such a term from so pert a miss. "Fare-
well." She changed into a firefly, flashed once, and zoomed
away to the north. There seemed to be no conservation of
mass here.

A dark shape charged toward him, low and furry,
gleaming-eyed and toothed. Clef clutched the Platinum
FluteЧand suddenly it was a fine rapier. "Will wonders
never ceasel" he exclaimed. This was a weapon with which