"Asprin, Robert - Another Fine Myth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asprin Robert)

allowing it to pass lightly across the pages of the book
and up in a swooping arc, stopped it, and brought it
back. As it approached the book the second time, I dis-
engaged part of my mind to dart ahead to the book. As
the feather crossed the pages, the book snapped shut
like the jaws of a hungry predator, trapping the missile
within its grasp.

"Hmmmm ..." intoned Garkin, "a trifle showy, but
effective."

"Just a little something I worked up when I was prac-
ticing," I said casually, reaching out with my mind for
the other lizard-bird leg. Instead of floating gracefully
to my waiting hand, however, it remained on the
wooden platter as if it had taken root.

"Not so fast, my little sneak-thief. So you've been
practicing, eh?" He stroked his beard thoughtfully with
the half-gnawed bone in his hand.

"Certainly. Didn't it show?" It occurred to me that
Garkin is not as easy to fool as it sometimes seems.

"In that case, I'd like to see you light your candle. It
should be easy if you have been practicing as much as
you claim."

"I have no objections to trying, but as you have said
yourself so many times, some lessons come easier than
others."

Although I sounded confident, my spirits sank as the
large candle came floating to the work table in response
to Garkin's summons. In four years of trying I was yet
to be successful at this particular exercise. If Garkin was
going to keep me from food until I was successful, I
could go hungry for a long time.
"Say, uh, Garkin, it occurs to me I could probably

concentrate better on a full stomach."

"It occurs to me that you're stalling."

"Couldn't I...."

"Now, Skeeve."

There was no swaying him once he used my proper
name. That much I had learned over the years. Lad,