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

you're whisking away people to help you fight a war? And
we've got the chance to join up and go -- or die?"

"That's about the size of it," Ruddygore admitted. "Al-
though you are not quite right. First of all, I have no idea if
you will die. I had no idea you would be in the truck. And,
as an honorable man, I must admit that he might be able to
save you if, after returning to the road, he lets you off. Might.
He, however, is in the situation you describe. Secondly, I'm
no little green man from Mars. The world I speak of is not up
there, it's -- well, somewhere else." He looked thoughtful for
a moment.

"Think of it this way," he continued. "Think of opposites.
Nature usually contains opposites. There is even, I hear, a
different kind of matter, anti-matter, that's as real as we are
yet works so opposite to us that, if it came into contact with
us, it would cancel itself and us out. When the Earth was
created, my world was also created -- a by-product, you might
say, of the creation. It's very much like Earth, but it is in many
ways an opposite. It runs by different rules. But it's as real a
place as any you've been to, and, I think, a better, nicer place
than Earth in a number of ways."

Far off in the distance there seemed to come a deep sound,
like a boat's whistle, or a steam train blowing off. Ruddygore
heard it and turned back to Joe.

"You have to decide soon, you know," he told the driver.
"The ferry's coming in, and it won't wait long. Although few
ride it, because only a very few can find it or even know of
it, it keeps a rigid schedule, for the path it travels is impossible
unless you're greatly skilled and well timed. You can die and
pass beyond my ken to the unknown beyond, or you can come
with me. Face it, Joe. What have you got to lose? Even if you
somehow could beat your destiny, you're only going through
the motions, anyway. There's nothing for you in this world
any more. I offer a whole new life."

19

JACK L.CHALKER

"And maybe just as short," the driver replied. "I did my bit
of soldiering."

"Oh, it's not like that. We have many for armies. I need
you for special tasks, not military ones. Adventure, Joe. A
new life. A new world. I will make you young again. Better
than you ever were."