"Anthony, Piers- Incarnations of Immortality 2- Bearing an Hourglass" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

Trescott eyed Norton's somewhat sweaty and worn hiking outfit disapprovingly. "Very good, sir," he muttered.

"The guards don't always let themselves see me," Gawain explained. "Unless I take pains to manifest to them. Ghosts are not much in fashion here; the management worries about property values."

"Or about scruffy-looking characters like me," Norton said. "I feel out of place here."

"Um, there's a point," Gawain agreed. "We really ought to spruce you up a bit to make a good impression."

"I am what I am," Norton said. "If she has the power to judge a man's true worth at a glance, what difference does clothing or polish make?"

"There is that. Very well, we'll try it this way. But if she accepts you, you'll have to dress the part."

"First things first," Norton said, not totally pleased.

They arrived at the door. "Now I can't go in," Gawain said. "Rules of the cosmos. Everyone can see a ghost like me except the one most concerned. You'll introduce yourself."

"What, smile toothily and say, 'Hi, girl, I'm here to-'?"

"Tell her Gawain sent you. She'll understand."

"Sure," Norton said glumly. How had he gotten into this? He felt like a traveling salesman about to approach the farmer's daughter.

"Good luck," Gawain said.

Norton wasn't sure whether "good luck" would mean acceptance or rejection. He nerved himself and touched the door's call button.

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Chapter 2 - VERIFICATION

A panel became translucent after a moment. "Yes?" a soft-voiced woman inquired. He could not quite make out her features; the glass was, of course, designed to pass a clear image only one way.

"Uh, Gawain sent me." Idiocy!

The door slid aside, and she stood framed within. She had hair the hue of honey and eyes the same. Her figure was adorably proportioned, and her face was cute. She was the loveliest creature he had met.

Orlene studied Norton. Her &yes seemed to shine. "Oh, I was afraid this would happen someday," she said.

"This wasn't exactly my idea," Norton said. "I'll go."

"No," she said quickly. "No fault in you! I just was not prepared."

"Since I'm unsuitable, I won't bother you further." He felt quite awkward, sorry he had come here, yet also deeply regretful. He had been braced to meet a different sort of woman; for one like this, he would do almost anything.

"No, wait," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to-please, sit down, have some tea."

"That's not necessary, thank you. I'm intruding. This whole business-" He turned away-and paused. Gawain was right there behind him, spreading his arms to block his retreat. He did not want to walk through the ghost.

Orlene came up and took his arm. Her touch was light and gentle and utterly right; he had a momentary mental picture of a porcelain statuette, a work of art, inconceivably delicate, precious, and cool. "Please," she repeated. "He set it up," Norton said, indicating Gawain. "You don't have to say that," Orlene said, sounding just a bit nettled. "You don't have to justify yourself."