"Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight 07 - The Dragon and the G" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

"John, there's no need to worry, now. We'll take care of the boomps, and they won't hurt anyone
in the meantime."

He had reassured all the servants repeatedly; but reassurances did not help. He was supposed to
act, not talk. That was what lords, knights, magicians, and other strong people were for. Only
those who could not act, talked.

"Who heard it this time?" he asked.

"Meg and Beth both heard it," said John, faintly, "just now. They were in the Still-Room, and
they heard it in the wall right beside them; and others just outside the Still-Room heard. They two
screamed, and then faintedтАФ dead away. They were carried to the Serving Room, where they are
being fanned and given sommat to drink."

Jim reflected for a moment.

The walls of Malencontri, like those of most large stone castles, were everywhere from three to
twenty feet through, thickening as they went down toward the base, to carry the weight above
themтАФand the Still-Room where the beer was brewed was on the ground floor. Plenty of
thickness there for Something to be tunneling through; provided, of course, It could tunnel
noiselessly, except for an occasional boomp.

"Never mind, now," Jim said, suddenly weary. "The boomps have been only in the walls so far.
They won't be coming out; and I'll take care of them as soon as I have time. I give you my word
as a magician on it."

A faint smile, an equally faint gleam of hope lit up John's face. A knight's word could be counted
onтАФa magickian's must be twice as unbreakable.

"Yes, m'Lord." John started to turn toward the nearest steps down to the courtyard.

"Oh, and you can tell Beth and Meg I'm sorry they had to be right next to the boomp, but we can
be pretty sure now no one'll hear it in the Still-Room, since it's never sounded twice in the same


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place."

"Yes, my Lord." It was the ultimate submission. When no stranger of rank was present it was the
habit, and privilege, of the Malencontri people to slur the two words of Jim's formal address
together in familiar fashion. Only when visiting gentry were presentтАФor in moments of great
stressтАФdid they answer as John had just done. But Jim looked at the Steward sharply. The pale
cast was gone from John's face, and there was a touch in his voice of an almost consoling tone.

But John turned and went; and Jim put him out of mind, having other things to concern him. The
fuss about the latest boomp had given him an idea for dealing with the besiegers.

If there were left in them any of the superstition the servants were now showing, a magickian