"Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight 02 - The Dragon Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

been thinking earlier. But it was a valuable beast, the best of his stable; and leaving it loose here in the
woods would be the way to lose it, most likely. On the other hand, it was clearly as uneasy about him in
his dragon form as the boar had been.

He sat thinking. Any attempt to approach the horse would frighten it away from him. Furthermore, any
attempt to speak to it would result in the words coming out in his dragon voice, which would also frighten
it. He mulled over the problem.

A sudden inspiration came to him. The horse-in a nostalgic moment Jim had named the stalwart bay
gelding тАЬGorp,тАЭ after the ancient automobile that had been the only transport Angie and he could afford,
back when they had been graduate students in the twentieth-century world-was in no way trained like
Blanchard of Tours. But Sir Brian had pointed out that a certain amount of simple, Gorp-level training
might still be useful.

One of the most rudimentary bits of training Sir Brian had recommended Jim start off with, had been
teaching Gorp to come when Jim whistled. It was highly important to anyone fighting on horseback. If a
knight got unhorsed, but his horse was still serviceable, he should be able to call it to him so he could
remount. In the noise and shouting of battle, with the clang of swords on armor, one more voice would
not be distinctive. On the other hand, a whistle could be heard by the horse over the other sounds, and
be immediately identifiable.
 Consequently, Jim had worked at training Gorp to come to his whistle; and had, as much to his surprise
as to AngieтАЩs or anyone elseтАЩs, succeeded. It was just possible now that the horse would come in this
moment also to his whistle. That is, if this other body of his could whistle.

There was no way to find out but by trying it. Jim pursed his lips, which felt very odd in that position to
his dragon senses, and blew.

At first he produced no noise at all. Then so suddenly that he himself was startled, his customary
come-hither whistle emerged from the dragon lips.

Within the trees Gorp pricked up his ears and stirred uneasily. He stared at the dragon shape in the
road, but Jim was still carefully not looking directly at him. Jim whistled again.

In the end it took five whistles. But eventually, almost plodding, Gorp sidled up to the dragon shape; and
Jim was able to close one clawed fist on the animalтАЩs trailing reins. At last he had what he wanted. He
could lead Gorp along with him until he came to CarolinusтАЩs. In fact, he could do better than that. He
could hook his sword belt to the pommel of the saddle and let Gorp carry the bundle of his clothes,
armor, and weapons. He allowed the horse to smell the bundle of clothes first, and Gorp evidently found
it reassuring, so that he did not protest when JimтАЩs mighty claws hooked the belt around the pommel of
the saddle.

Gently, Jim turned and attempted to lead Gorp slowly forward along the road.

Gorp dug in his feet at first, then yielded. He followed.

It was only a little distance to CarolinusтАЩs cottage at the Tinkling Water. As he got closer, a feeling of
peace began to overcome Jim, at first suddenly and then powerfully. It was always so with anyone
approaching the residence of Carolinus; and Jim no longer wondered at it.

He now knew that CarolinusтАЩs powers as a magician were such that not only was the spot itself