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

' 'Tis another foul plot by the Netherhells!'

Snarks whistled. 'It looks like they've come up with a winner this time.' The demon flinched as the warrior growled above him. 'Okay, okay, maybe it's inappropriate to compliment the Netherhells at a time like this.' Snarks got a faraway look in his eye. 'Still, one has to have some feelings about the place one was born. I still remember it all: The smell of the slime pits, the gooey feel of fungus on the walls of my nursery, the special way those swamp gases would get into your eyes.' The demon sighed. 'It gave one a real sense of revulsion, let me tell you.'

Allowances had to be made for Snarks. His mother had been frightened by demon politicians shortly before he was born, a misfortune that led to Snarks growing into a demon that could tell nothing but the truth, especially the unpleasant truth, the more unpleasant the better. This truth-telling tendency had gotten him banished from the Netherhells, but that same extreme honesty had made him a trustworthy

13

companion in our battles with his former home.

'Doom,' Hendrek said again as the sneezing continued unabated.

'What have we been thinking of?' Norei demanded. 'We have to get these wizards out in the open, away from this sorcery-tainted air!'

My beloved was right! I fought down a momentary pang of guilt for not thinking of rescuing the wizards myself, after all the times I had had to come to the aid of my master. There was just something overwhelming about being in the midst of two score sneezing wizards, something - perhaps the noise level - that made it difficult to think at all. A chill ran through my frame. Could this be yet another facet of the Netherhells' plot?

'Doom,' Hendrek muttered as he began to drag bunches of wizards outside the hall. Norei and Snarks turned to aid those few sorcerers still able to walk.

'That's not what I think it is,' Snarks whispered, his voice tinged with fear.

'Hi, there!' The Brownie waved from where he had been wandering among the prostrate mages. 'How are those shoes I made for you holding out? Talk about Brownie Power!'

Snarks groaned, his normal, sickly green face turned a sickly gray. 'No,' he moaned softly. 'What have I done to deserve this? I am banished from the Netherhells. This I accept. I am forced to wander through a strange world, and even battle my own kind whenever I should meet them. This, too, I accept. My human companions don't heed the helpful advice I give them that would so much improve their lives. Even this I accept. But the Brownie, again?' The demon drew a ragged breath, and fell to his knees. 'Is there no justice?'

I

14

'Why the sad face, friend demon?' Tap jumped merrily to Snarks' side. 'You have nothing to worry about. Now that I'm back, I've decided to take the time to show you the Brownie Way.'

'The Brownie -' Snarks began.

'Oh, there is no need to thank me,' Tap interjected before the demon could finish his sentence. 'I know it will take great patience, but making shoes teaches great patience. And if my efforts aren't enough to show you the light, fear not, there are a thousand of my fellows ready to take my place. You are in good hands with Browniedom. Soon you will know that there is justice - Brownie Justice!' The little man did an impromptu jig on the corner of Snarks' robe.

The demon stared back at the Brownie. Snarks opened his mouth repeatedly, and shut it as many times. No sound issued forth.

'Yes, it is all a bit overwhelming, isn't it?' Tap laughed infectiously. 'Come, what better time than now to begin our first lesson?'

The Brownie looked dreamily off into the middle distance. 'Lesson One: The Selection of Shoe Leather. All good things must begin somewhere. Shoes are no exception, and proper raw materials are essential. . . .'

Snarks rose unsteadily and staggered from the room. Tap paused at last and looked around, realizing that his audience had fled. 'Oh, how right you are!' he cried. 'How much better to conduct our lessons outside, in the warm summer air! I am coming, friend demon!'

Tap romped merrily from the room.

I stopped before a sneezing mass covered in royal blue.

'Master?'

Ebenezum looked up and nodded. 'Too much,' he managed. 'Outside -'