"03 - A Disagreement with Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner Craig Shaw)

I glanced at both Norei and Snarks, then stepped forward. I would have to handle this somehow. "Indeed." I tried to smile, but my lips would not refrain from trembling. "Do you have a proposal?"

Was it my imagination, or did Death's grin become even wider? "Oh, I have any number of them. But I don't think it's proper that proposals should come from me." Death's voice quickened, rising with every word. "After all, I am dealing with the Eternal Apprentice, the one being in the entire cosmos forever beyond my grasp!"

It stopped itself for a minute to smooth its dark, rotting robes. "At least, that is, until now," it added in a much more reasonable tone. "I therefore think it only proper that the initial proposal come not from me, but from the Eternal Apprentice."

"Indeed?" I replied. Death was taunting me, flaunting its advantage. Looking at the specter's smile, I felt the fear drain away, to be replaced by a building anger. If Death was going to play with me, I would play right back.

"You want a proposal, then?" I asked, managing a firm smile at last. "You give Ebenezum back to us and we would forget all about it."

Death made a strangled sound, deep in whatever it had that passed for a throat. "You dare--" it whispered. "When I could reach over and snuff out--" The specter paused again and stood up straight, regaining its skeletal

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composure. It laughed. "But I misunderstand. You wish to bargain. I apologize for my outburst, but I fear I am a bit too emotionally involved in these proceedings. I will go along with your game, of course. I am the master of games."

Death's knuckles clacked together noisily as it stroked its chin. "You have made an offer. It is, of course, unacceptable. However, I generously agree to make a counteroffer; say, let's forget all about the foolish wizard, and allow me rather to end this nonsense once and for all by taking you and your companions here to the Kingdom of Death for the rest of eternity."

Snarks sidled over to me. "I don't think this is working."

"Come, now," Death insisted. "I am waiting for your counteroffer."

"Indeed?" I answered, stalling for time. What could I bargain with next? I knew there was only one offer that would satisfy Death, and that was the possession of the Eternal Apprentice's soul. My soul.

Tap jumped across the clearing, landing on my shoe. "You'd better speak up. I don't think this guy is long on patience!"

"For once, we are in agreement," Snarks said, then added, "Why don't you offer the creature one of your companions in exchange for the wizard? Somebody with a useful skill, like making shoes."

"Then again," the Brownie reconsidered, "perhaps it is time to give this matter more thought. Perhaps fifty or sixty years more thought?"

"I await your answer," Death intoned. "Quickly, now! I have souls to collect!"

"Doom!" answered a deep voice behind me.

"Oh, here we go again," Death remarked fatalistically. "The longer we talk, the greater the number of companions to the Eternal Apprentice that will arrive. How many are there now? A dozen? Two dozen? May I suggest that we conclude our business before there are hundreds?"

"Indeed," I replied. "You will excuse me for a moment, but I need to consult with my fellows."

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"Doom," the warrior Hendrek agreed as he walked forward to stand by my side.

"Of course," Death said with a sigh. "How could I expect anything else?"

Norei walked to stand by my other side. I motioned my companions to huddle together.

"What am I do to? Death demands a bargain. But what can we afford to bargain with?"

"We could offer the creature a sharp blow to the head," Hendrek suggested, hefting his cursed warclub, which no man could own but could only rent. It was the weapon called Headbasher, that stole the memories from men.