"De Camp, L Sprague - RK 3 - The Unbeheaded King UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

Jonan frowned "You have a point I suppose the best
way were to have her grasp me round the neck from be-
hind, thus leaving my hands free "

"Do you ween you can hoist the weight of the twain
of you2"

"If not, I shall have to remain clinging to the rope until
you find us a safe place to alight "

"You cannot dangle until we are out of Xylar1 The ;our-
ney would require hours And if we alight ere departing
this land, Gorax will desert us, and we shall be forced to
flee afoot "

"Hmm " After a moment of silence, Jonan said "I know'
There's a ruined castle, said to be haunted, a dozen leagues
southeast of Xylar City A certain Baron Lore built it back
in feudal days Much of the main wall still stands. Gorax
can drop us on the wall and then bring the tub down to
the level of the parapet, so we can climb in Be sure to tell
him not to let the tub touch the wall, lest he deem himself
freed from his last labor "

Karadur muttered "I like it not Demons are tncky
beings, especially those we cannot see And what is this
about the castle's being haunted2"

"lust a rumor, a legend There's probably nought to it,
and if a malevolent spirit does abide there, 1 trust you to
protect us from it by magical means."

10

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Karadur dubiously wagged his beard "Why not bring
the tub to the edge of the palace roof, as you speak of doing
at Baron Lore's castle2"

"Because, save for a narrow walk around the penthouse
and a little terrace, the roof slopes down on both sides,
and there is nought to hang on to ere one reaches the eaves
By myself, I might chance sliding down the roof tiles and
leaping into the tub, but I cannot ask that of Estnidis "

"Curse it, boy, could you not take me across the border
into Othomae and leave me there71 would instruct Gorax
to obey you until his final dismissal "