"Chalker, Jack L - DG1 - The River of the Dancing Gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Chalker Jack L)

my death for something. What?"

"Oh, I didn't say I wasn't involved in magic. Sorcery,
actually. That's what I do for a living. I'm a necromancer. A
sorcerer." He shrugged. "It's a living -- and it pays better than
truck driving."

The pistol didn't waver. "All right. You say I'm gonna die
in -- I guess fifteen minutes or less now, huh?"

"No. Time has stopped for you. It did the moment you
diverted to my road. It will not resume until you return to the
Interstate, I think you called it."

"So we just stand here and I live forever, huh?"

"Oh, my, no! I have important things to do. I must be on
the ferry when it comes. When I leave, you'll be back on that
road instantly, deciding you just had a nutty dream -- for nine-
teen minutes eighteen seconds, that is."

Joe thought about it. "And suppose I do a flip, don't keep
going west? Or suppose I exit at Fort Stockton? Or pull over
to the side for a half hour?"

Ruddygore shrugged. "What difference? You wouldn't know
if that storm was going to hit you hard because you were sitting
by the side of the. road or because you turned back -- you can
never be sure. I am. You can't avoid it. Whatever you do will
take you to your destiny."

Joe didn't like that. He also didn't like the fact that he was

17

JACK L. CHALKER

taking this all so seriously. It was just a funny man in a circle
of -- "Where does the light come from?"

"I create it. For stuff like this, I like to work in a spotlight.
I'll turn it off if you like. "He snapped his fingers, and suddenly
the only lights were the truck headlights and running lights,
which still illuminated Ruddygore pretty well.

Suddenly the vast sea of stars that was the west Texas sky
on a clear night faded in, brilliant and impressive and, some-
how, reassuring.

Joe heard the door open and close on the passenger side and