"Anthony, Piers - Adept - 05 - Robot Adept" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

1

Phaze

Suchevane stood in the canoe. She was obviously fa-
tigued to the point of collapse, and in a misery of mixed
emotion, but she remained such a stunningly beautiful
figure of a woman that the rest hardly mattered. "I must
needs fly home," she said. "I may not, I think, associate
with ye folk longer."

"I understand, vampire maiden," Mach replied,
looking up from his place at the rear of the canoe. "I
thank you for your great service, and hope that we may
at least remain friends."

"Mayhap," Suchevane agreed. "I did it mostly for
thee, Fleta, and glad I am that thy life be safe and thy
love secure. Would I had such love myself." She gazed
for a moment at the fading brightness around them.
"Would that any man evoke such splash for me!"

The woman in Mach's arms lifted her head, gazing
at her friend through tear-blurred eyes. "Wouldst thou
had such love thyself," Fleta agreed. "Fare thee well,
dearest friend!"

Then Suchevane lifted her arms like wings, and with
effortless elegance even in her fatigue became a lovely

2 | Piers Anthony

bat, and flew into the haze. Exhaustion made her flight
ragged, but she would get where she was going.

The watery bubble floating beside the canoe bobbed
gently. "I be not partial to vamps," the face of the
Translucent Adept said within it. "But that one might
almost tempt an Adept." The bubble spun, so that the
face reoriented on the canoe. "I will, an thou wishest,
provide thy craft a tow to my Demesnes."

"Accepted, Adept," Mach replied. Then he low-
ered his face again to Fleta's face, and lost himself in
her.

The watery bubble moved, and from it stretched a
watery line that touched the prow of the canoe. Bubble
and canoe floated through the air, gaining speed, trav-
eling through the closing night.