"Esther M. Friesner - Troll By Jury" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

"Ethnic weakness," the bursar of Overford Academy replied in a voice that might be called gravelly and
mean it. Like most trolls, he was short and not much bigger than a nail keg, with huge feet, a jutting jaw,
and tusks. Unlike the normal run of his kinfolk, his flint-colored hair was neither shaggy nor unkempt, but
carefully groomed and slicked back into a short braid. His complexion was granite gray, with a light
stippling of acne or chisel marks. "Every so often, we trolls just have to spend a stretch of time under a
bridge. If a billygoat or two goes tripping-trapping over it, so much the better. It's instinct, like the salmon
swimming upstream to spawn, or the swallows returning to Swallow Combackington, or mothers trying
to force their children into marriage." He nodded meaningly in the direction of Ethelberthina's massed
relatives. "Charming old custom, a Maiden Morn. Especially if you've got no other hope of bringing your
daughter to heel. Well, I'll just be on my way now andтАФ"
Dean Porfirio drew his wand and tapped the bursar lightly on one shoulder. Magic was the only way to
stop a determined troll in his tracks; otherwise a man might as well try to impede the progress of a
runaway boulder. "Just a moment, old man," the wizard said. "I'm confused, and I don't like it. What's
this about a forced marriage?"



"Holy schist, do you mean you're the only person in town who doesn't know?" The troll was genuinely
shocked.



"He's one of three," Garth said.



"Then free my feet and we can go back to the Academy for a nice hot cup of tar and I'll tell you all about
it."



Zoli squatted and gave the troll her finest this-will-hurt-much-more-if-you-move look. "Save time; tell us
now."



"I have no time! You know what'll happen if I'm caught out after sunrise."



Dean Porfirio clicked his tongue. "You won't turn to stoneтАФnot all at onceтАФand nothing at all will
happen to you if I lend you my cloak. Don't fuss over trifles."



"That's all you know about it," the bursar said. "When I was a young troll, my friends and I used to play
Dare Daylight, seeing who could stand the sun longest. Look at my skin, why don't you!" He held out