"04 - The Wizardry Consulted (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cook Rick)

"Okaaay," Wiz said, "his name's Fluffy."

"He's taking us on a adventure," Caitlin announced. "We're going across
the river to hunt for mushrooms."

"All by yourselves?" Danny asked. "What does Shauna say?"

"Oh, Shauna can come too," Caitlin said. "Fluffy says it's all right."

"Where is Shauna anyway?" Wiz put in.

"Here, My Lord," the nursemaid said, puffing with exertion as she came
into the room. She dropped a perfunctory curtsy to Wiz. "Sorry, My Lord,
we were down in the orchard and they just took off running. The whole pack
of them." She turned toward her charges and planted her hands on her ample
hips. "No manners in the lot of them. Just up and whooping off like a
tribe of savages. They ought to be ashamed of themselves, bursting in here
like that and disturbing wizards at their work. Why it would have served
them right if they'd interrupted a powerful spell and been turned into a
parcel of frogs!"

The boy, the girl and the dragon recognized their cue and they all managed
to look properly abashed.

"Maybe it would be a good idea to take them over to the woods," Danny
said. "Let them run off some of this energy."

"Well . . ."

"Please Shauna," Caitlin wheedled.

"Peese," Ian chimed in.

"Whuf," added the dragon.

Shauna considered and then relented. "Well, all right, My Lord. But just
to get them out of your hair." She turned and glared fiercely at the
children. "And this time that beast-" She jerked her head at the dragon.
"That beast has to swim the river. Near to upset the boat last time, he
did, and the boatmen won't take him any more."

"Come on," Caitlin whooped and dashed for the door. Ian jumped out of
Danny's lap and pounded after her and the dragon followed, nearly knocking
Shauna down as he charged past.

"Here now!" she yelled. "Just slow down, the lot of you." With an
apologetic glance over her shoulder, she followed her charges out the
door, calling to them to come back.