"Dexter-HerdingInstinct" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dexter Colin)

contain such overmastering joy, she sprang up so that Corlinn had to step
hastily back, nearly falling, unable to avoid her wet nose and dirty paws. He
did evade most of the wet kisses the puppy sought to bestow, to the pup's
dismay. She redoubled her efforts.

The shepherd seized her by her ruff, held her down and spoke sternly. The puppy
stared past him as if his words had no connection with any world she knew, then
struggled to be free of his fingers, not too polite to add teeth to her weapons.

"She's strong-willed -- and were she human, a trial to any father!" Corlinn
chuckled. "But she's merely a dog. An ordinary dog," the wizard stressed.

"You're sure?" Uncertainly. "Sir?"

Corlinn looked again, with all the Sight he possessed. But though the ice-blue
eyes were unusual, even unnerving, they were in no wise demonic. He nodded.

"Will you take her, sir?"

"I?" The wizard transferred his gaze and attention from dog to shepherd with
some surprise and no little difficulty. "I have just said, she is only a dog.
Even if she were . . . as you thought . . . I have neither wish nor need for a
familiar. I am in retirement here, and puppies are inconducive to rest and
study, whether they be witchbred or not. Take her? No, not likely."

The shepherd nodded and replaced his cap, prepared to go. He snapped his fingers
for Mai, who left off sniffing at an herb-plot to frisk back to his side, her
earlier scolding forgotten the instant 'twas heard -- if it had been heard at
all.

"What will you do with her?" the wizard wondered, his tongue taking his ears by
surprise. But it could hardly be a bargaining trick --no mention of price had
been made.

The shepherd frowned down at the leggy pup, her tail curling over her back and
waving gently side to side. "What I'd have done when she was born, if I'd known.
'Tis kinder when they're small."

"Because of her eyes?" the wizard asked, a chill of realization striking
through. His say that the pup was normal counted for nothing against the weight
of peasant lore. "Just because they're blue?"

"Because I always cull the weak ones, or the deformed. Same as w' the sheep."

"She's healthy." Protest, as much as observation.

"Aye. And what else besides? I won't foul your river, sir, never fear." The
shepherd squared his shoulders, under the fleece he wore for warmth. "There's a
fast-running beck nearer to home, 'twill serve."