"Gordon R. Dickson - The Last Dream" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

тАЬLook,тАЭ called Jim, peering downтАФthe knight looked up eagerlyтАФтАЬif youтАЩll listen to what IтАЩve to say,
first.тАЭ
The knight considered.

тАЬFair enough,тАЭ he said, finally. тАЬNo pleas for mercy, now!тАЭ

тАЬNo, no,тАЭ said Jim.

тАЬBecause I shanтАЩt grant them, dammit! ItтАЩs not in my vows. Widows and orphans and honorable enemies
on the field of battle. But not dragons.тАЭ

тАЬNo. I just want to convince you who I really am.тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt give a blasted farthing who you really are.тАЭ

тАЬYou will,тАЭ said Jim. тАЬBecause IтАЩm not really a dragon at all. IтАЩve just beenтАФuhтАФenchanted into a
dragon.тАЭ

The man on the ground looked skeptical.

тАЬReally,тАЭ said Jim, slipping a little in the tree. тАЬYou know S. Carolinus, the magician? IтАЩm as human as
you are.тАЭ

тАЬHeard of him,тАЭ grunted the knight. тАЬYouтАЩll say he put you under?тАЭ

тАЬNo, heтАЩs the one whoтАЩs going to change me backтАФas soon as I can find the lady IтАЩmтАФerтАФ betrothed
to. A real dragon ran off with her. IтАЩm after him. Look at me. Do I look like one of these scrawny
mere-dragons?тАЭ

тАЬHmm,тАЭ said the knight. He rubbed his hooked nose thoughtfully.

тАЬCarolinus found sheтАЩs at the Loathly Tower. IтАЩm on my way there.тАЭ

The knight stared.

тАЬThe Loathly Tower?тАЭ he echoed.

тАЬExactly,тАЭ said Jim, firmly. тАЬAnd now you know, your honor as knight and gentleman demands you donтАЩt
hamper my rescue efforts.тАЭ

The knight continued to think it over for a long moment or two. He was evidently not the sort to be
rushed into things.

тАЬHow do I know youтАЩre telling the truth?тАЭ he said at last.

тАЬHold your sword up. IтАЩll swear on the cross of its hilt.тАЭ

тАЬBut if youтАЩre a dragon, whatтАЩs the good in that? Dragons donтАЩt have souls, dammit!тАЭ