"Brooks, Terry - Landover 01 - Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brooks Terry)

dream out of a Wishbook.

Escape into your dreams . . .

For one million dollars, of course. But he had the money.
He had money enough to buy it three times over. His father
and mother had both been wealthy and he had enjoyed a
lucrative practice. The million dollars was thereЧif that was
the way he chose to spend it.

And there was the interview with this fellow Meeks. That
puzzled him. What was the purpose of the interviewЧto
screen applicants? Did they anticipate there would be that
many and was there some reason to choose among them?
Perhaps, where a King was to be selected, there was.

He took a deep breath. What sort of King would he make?
He had the price of the kingshipЧbut so would others have
it. He was physically and mentally fitЧbut others would be,
too. He was experienced in dealing with people and with
lawsЧothers might not be. He was compassionate. He was
honorable. He was farsighted.

He was crazy.

He finished off the drink, closed the Wishbook, and went
into the kitchen to make dinner. He took his time about it,
preparing a rather extravagant beef and vegetable dish, and
served it to himself with wine. When the meal was finished,
he moved back to the front room again and reseated himself
on the sofa before the Wishbook.

He already knew what he was going to do. Perhaps he had
known all along. He needed something to believe in again.
He needed to recapture the magic that had first drawn him
to the practice of lawЧthe sense of wonder and excitement
it had brought to his life. Most of all, he needed a challengeЧ
because that was what gave life meaning.

Landover could offer him that.

He was not yet certain that it would, of course. Perhaps
it was all an elaborate charade of the sort envisioned by
Miles, where the dragons were large iguanas and the knights
and wizards were all supplied by Central Casting. Perhaps

i8 MAGIC KINGDOM FOR SALE - SOLD!

the dream was a sham, an imitation of what the imagination
would have it truly be. Even if it were all realЧif it were