"John DeChancie - Castle 01 - Castle Perilous" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dechancie John)

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Castle Perilous
John De Chancie
An [ e - reads ] Book

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No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or
mechanical, including photocopy, recording, scanning or any information storage retrieval system, without
explicit permission in writing from the Author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the authorтАЩs imagination
or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locals or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental.
Copyright 1988 by John DeChancie
First e-reads publication 1999
www.e-reads.com
ISBN 0-7592-6746-4
Author Biography
John DeChancie is a popular author of numerous science fiction/fantasy novels including the hugely entertaining
CASTLE series and STARRIGGER trilogy. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Other works by John DeChanice also available in e-reads editions
Red Limit Freeway
Living With Aliens
To my son Gene
Contents
Castle Perilous
Keep тАФ East Wing тАФ Northwest Tower
SOMETHING WAS FOLLOWING Kwip up the dark spiral stairwell. He was sure of that now. It was something
that walked on taloned feet with thickly padded soles. Some inhuman тАж thing, little doubt. His heart frosting
over, Kwip wondered what variety of shrieking nightmare it would be this time.
That it was intelligent, there could be even less doubt. With calculated stealth it matched him footstep for
footstep, masking the click of its nails against stone with the sound of KwipтАЩs movement up the stairs. When
Kwip stopped, it stopped. When he picked up the pace, it followed suit instantaneously. He was sure it wasnтАЩt his
imagination.
As he saw it, panic was one of only two choices, should he find a locked door at the head of the stairwell or
should the thing choose to begin sprinting up the stairs in pursuit. The alternative was to draw this sword he had
stolen, turn and meet it. A clear choice, but his heart was voting panic! as it banged against his breastbone. His
head was somewhat in agreement, but reason still held the deciding ballot. Kwip did not want to start running and
give the thing ideas. He was tired. HeтАЩd been climbing for hours, it seemed. Running would drain the last of his
strength. Doubtless he would need every scintilla if he wished to continue his career in a onepiece body. Lose
composure now, and these dark stone walls would be smeared with his innards. Such decor was not to his taste.
He thought an experiment was in order. Trying to maintain the same interval, he mounted two steps in one stride,
then continued normally, listening. The barely audible clicking behind him did not change rhythm. He allowed
himself a tiny sigh. He had gained a step on the thing. Try again. He jumped another step with his right foot and
did the same with his left, then resumed mounting one per stride. He listened again. Three steps gained тАж