"01 - A Difficulty With Dwarves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner Craig Shaw)

about me eeped merrily in reply.

A short, green blur paced rapidly back and forth behind the large warrior's bulk. It was Snarks, hopping, then walking, even running a pace or two, his fists occasionally darting out to hit something that wasn't there. Even allowing for his demonic demeanor, he seemed agitated.

'Oh,' Snarks remarked distractedly as we approached. 'I didn't know you'd be accompanied by a sea of rodents.'

'Indeed?' I replied. 'Rodents?' Just what did Snarks mean about my little charges? Perhaps I was being a tad oversensitive on the issue, but I thought the demon should show due respect for my ferrets. 'Please, friend Snarks. These are anything but a sea of rodents!'

'What else could you call them, a living rug?' Snarks shrugged, as if it no longer mattered quite what they were.

'Oh, well, I suppose they might make somebody a good coat someday.'

'Coat?' I demanded. This was really too much. The ferrets nearest my feet, catching my mood, bared their teeth as they crept in Snarks' general direction.

The demon, seeing the change in my little charges, threw his hands up into the air. 'Wait!' he called. 'I am forced to agree with you. Ferrets are wonderful creatures, and a boon to our cause!'

I realized then that this was the second time today I had heard Snarks apologize. This went beyond mere agitation. Snarks was being pleasant and polite. There must be something seriously wrong.

I quieted my ferrets with a glance, and asked the demon what troubled him so.

' 'Tis a small matter,' Snarks murmured, still intent, it seemed, on making light of the situation. But his anger broke through when he spoke again: 'And it makes shoes!'

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I had never seen the demon so undone before. 'The Brownie?' I replied.

'The Brownie!' Snarks shrieked. 'Always the Brownie!' He fell to his knees, his small, green fists flailing at the gnarled roots of the willow.

'Doom,' Hendrek remarked.

I merely nodded, and gave myself a moment to collect my thoughts. For the first time since I had met him, Snarks seemed completely undone. What was even worse, his anguish concerned not an enemy, but another one of our allies, a magical creature who had helped us in the past and might be of use to us again.

I could see a potential for this situation to get out of hand. I wished then that I could have called my master over and allowed him to directly settle the dispute between demon and Brownie. But Ebenezum's malady would not abide such close contact with these two magical creatures. Therefore, unless I wanted to see my master once again turned into a sneezing wreck, I would have to handle at least the up-close, personal end of this dispute. I looked at the demon and tried to think like a wizard. How would my master handle this?

'Indeed,' I replied. 'And yet you have dealt with the Brownie before for much of our adventures. Why, then, this sudden consternation?'

Snarks paused mid-tantrum. 'Funny. I never thought of it that way. Yes, now that you mention it, I have stood up to the Brownie many times. I've even stood up to groups of Brownies!' I could hear the confidence creeping back into his voice. 'After all, even in groups, they are still very short.'

'Doom.' Hendrek nodded encouragingly. 'So you do not fear the Brownies?'

'No, not at all.' Snarks allowed a demonic smile to settle upon his countenance. 'Fear, no. Dislike, however, is

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another matter entirely. Yet that would not be enough to explain my actions.' Snarks' smile faded as dark green furrows appeared on his forehead. 'For I admit, I have been acting strangely. My behavior has been totally undemonic. What would my mother think?'

'Doom,' Hendrek agreed. 'Then you must fear something besides the Brownies.'

Snarks stared at the large warrior. 'You never cease to amaze me. First symbolism, and now this. And I used to believe your warclub did all your thinking for you!'