"Elrod, P N - I, Strahd 2 - War Against Azalin e-txt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

been exposed to. You don't actually have to be in a fire for your clothes to
smell of wood smoke."
"Magic!" she said, and gave a little ladylike shudder.
"Nothing to be afraid of. It's just another tool, like a hammer. You only have
to know how to correctly use it so as not to hurt yourself or others."
"Then I'll leave that for other people, thank you very much. I want no truck
with magical books."
"You likely won't. True magical tomes are extremely rare and almost always
traded exclusively between those who have trained in their use."
"There's a relief. I just wish I wasn't as sensitive to it like as you say."
"It's annoying, but it won't hurt you. For you it's about the same as for people
who get a rash from eating strawberries. Besides, because of your reaction
you've often been able to separate ordinary books from the extraordinary, have
you not?"
"Indeed, and they fetch ever so much more coin. If it weren't for them I'd have
lost my shop and gone to the poor home years ago."
"So there's a 'silver' lining to that cloud, so to speak."
She chuckled and nodded at this, then sobered, cocking her head entreatingly.
"But my nightmaresЕ ?"
"You read the books don't you? I suggest you break off doing that."
"Oh, but I can't! Otherwise how will I tell who might find it of interest?
There's many that I've sent your way for knowing what they were about."
"True, and I do appreciate it. PerhapsЧif your nightmares persistЧyou can come
by and I'll fix you up with a nice herbal tea you can take at bedtime. I'd also
suggest you not read these kinds of stories just before retiring."
The other customer, who was presently giving hard study to some housekeeping
books, cleared his throat. He made it sound impatient.
Van Richten leaned close to whisper, "I'm not sure I care for the look of that
fellow. Do you want me to stay?"
Mrs. Heywood considered the offer, then shook her head. "I shall be fine, I know
his sort, and they're harmless to me."
"Harmless!"
"Indeed. He's got books to sell and is shy about it."
"Why should he be shy?"
"Because the poor man probably can't read."
"Oh, dear."
"So you run along andЧ"
"If you're sure?"
"Thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine." She made shooing motions.
Dr. Van Richten, his own purchase tucked in the pocket of his coat, reluctantly
took his leave.
The other man had apparently been waiting for this, but made no immediate move
toward the front counter. Mrs. Heywood patiently picked up her latest knitting
project, a striped scarf, and prepared to work on it until he was ready to talk
to her. It was all part of the game of buying and selling. Neither party dared
show too much eagerness lest it adversely effect the price of the product. Mrs.
Heywood was very good player.
The man finally replaced the book he had been pretending to flip throughЧhe had
been holding it upside down until finding a page with pictures on itЧand made
his way to her front counter.