"Brown,.Mary.-.Unicorn's.Ring.2.-.1994.-.Pigs.Don't.Fly" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brown Mary)

for ready consumption two cheeses, a hunk of bacon, two slices of
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Mary Brown
smoked ham, some dried fish, two loaves and twelve honey cakes.
Which left my writing materials, tally sticks and the Boke. Those came with me
if nothing else did.
I surveyed the articles laid out on the grass with dismay. There was nothing,
absolutely nothing, I could leave behind. Somehow or other I would have to pack
them better, and trust the sledge would at least get me as far as the High Road.
Then perhaps I could find a lift, or could repair the runners well enough to get
me to a village.
The sun was already clear of the trees: I had better get moving. Setting to work
I found the packing much easier and the result neater and better balanced,
especially when I utilized one of the double panniers I had also dragged along
for the eatables, salt and flour, and I reckoneol should get along much faster
now.
Perhaps the pannier would be better balanced if I distributed the food more
evenly: it must be ten o'clock, and I should travel better with a nibble of
something in my stomach. That bread was already stale, so if I ate a crust and a
slice of cheeseЧor two ...
"Proper little piggy, ain't you?" said a voice.
I whirled around on my knees, sure I had been discovered. But there was no one
in sight, the forest was in the same state of suspended alert and there was no
sound of footsteps. I decided I must be light-headed and had imagined it. I took
another bite of cheese, andЧ
"Some of us ain't eaten for two days," said the same voice. "Chuck us a bit of
rind, and I'll go away.. .."
Dear God! It must be one of the Little People, of which I had heard from Mama. I
crossed myself nastily. What had she said about Them? Mischievous, usually only
out at night, not to be crossed lightly. With shaking fingers I cut a piece of
rind and threw it as far as I could, then hid my eyes, remembering that They
don't like to be looked at either.
"Mmm, not bad at all," said the voice again. A very uneducated voice, I thought,
then wondered if They
PIGS DON'T FLY
45
could read minds. "How's about a bite of crust, while we're at it?"
Obediently I threw the crust, and this time there were distinct crunching
noises, then silence. I decided I could risk a peep. Surely It had gone. ...
At first 1 thought It was an Imp, a black Imp, then I saw that Whatever-it-was
had taken the form of a dog. At least I think it was meant to be a dog. I shut
my eyes again.
"Garn! I ain't that bad-lookin', surely?"
"Of course not," I said, still with my eyes shut tight. Heaven knows what would
happen if I looked at it straight in the eye. "IfЧif there is nothing else, may
I please go my way?"
"I ain't stoppin' you," said the Thing. "Though I thought as how you might like
a bit of company, like."
"No thanks," I said hastily. "I'm fine, thanks."
"Pity," said the Thing. "Could be a lot of use to you, I could. Fetch and carry,