"Ty Drago - Shadowself" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drago Ty)

Shadowself
by Ty Drago

Mr. Drago, 38, lives in Stratford, New Jersey, with his wife, Helene, daughter, Kim and son, Andy. A freelance
computer consultant by profession, Mr. Drago has been writing all of his life, mostly in the science fiction and
fastasy/horror genres. Mr. Drago's work has appeared in After Hours, Haunts, Pandora, and Midnight Zoo. One of
his tales, "The Attendant", received an honorable mention in the 1994 Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology.
He has completed two novels, first a comtemporary fantasy entitled "Chivalry", and the second a high fantasy piece
called "Angelfire", both of which are now available for publication. He is also the editor/publisher of Peridot
Books, a successful, online fiction magazine.

Liam Reese sensed the Shadowself's approach before he heard it. This was typical, as the
Shadowself rarely made much noise. So tenuous was its substance that it's movement
usually left only the faintest rustling, like the sound of a soft, bitter wind cutting through a
wheat field.

Liam immediately cursed and rolled over frantically in bed, reaching for the light switch.

As his hand worked the lamp, that familiar, hungry presence touched him, wrapping its thin,
cold fingers around his wrist. He yelped like a frightened puppy and hit the switch. Instantly,
light flooded his small bedroom.
The Shadowself hovered over him for an instant before retreating, throwing up its hands
before its face and emitting a low, contemptuous moan. Liam climbed off the far side of the
bed and stood with his back against the cool, plaster wall, watching it.

It had almost had him! he thought wildly, cursing a second time. He should never have slept
with the light off, but it had been so long since it had come calling. Liam had dared, in some
corner of his mind, to imagine that his ordeal might finally be over.
"You were hard to find this time," it whispered in its raspy voice.

"Not hard enough," Liam replied flatly. "Get out of here."

The Shadowself hovered in the center of the room, gray, wispy feet against the threadbare
carpet. It regarded him with its blank, pupiless eyes, and then it mouth spread open in an
easy smile. Through the gap in its face where teeth should have been, Liam could see the
wall behind it.
"I'll be back again, you know..."

When Liam didn't reply, it chuckled softly, the sound emerging as a raspy weeze. Then it
slipped quietly back toward the door. It ignored the knob, as it had no use for such things,
and merely slipped, virtually silent, through the crack between the door and its frame.
Liam stood where he was, his heart pounding. He'd tried to put up a brave front, as he'd
learned long ago that the Shadowself thrived on his fear. But he sensed with disheartening
certainty that his act had fooled no one. He'd come close tonight, closer than he had since
the beginning. The Shadowself, Liam knew, had a single, formidable advantage. Liam had
to keep getting lucky...but the Shadowself needed to be lucky only once.

How long had he managed to allude it this time? Almost three years, and still his reflexes
had been enough to wake him a moment before...
He sat down on the edge of the bed, and rubbed his face with trembling hands. He'd have to