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

"But I guess he's seen right through us, Hubie," Alea added. "Let's face it, we need new worlds to conquer. We've already mastered the world above with our song and dance. And now we've almost finished this gig as official entertainment for Wuntvor's quest. Hubie and I have decided it's time to look for limited engagements elsewhere."

"Nothing fancy, mind you," Hubert continued. "One-

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night stands, mostly; perhaps a longer engagement in your population centers. If you have population centers." The dragon sighed happily. "Just think, the first song-and-dance act ever to tour the Kingdom of the Dead."

Death stared at me even more intently. "A bargain! Quickly!"

"I have an idea!" Snarks interjected. "You return the wizard to us, and we'll make sure the dragon and the woman never bother you again."

Death hesitated before it replied.

"Tempting," it said at last. "But not enough."

"Is this creature bothering you?" a magnificently modulated voice spoke close by my ear. I did not even have to turn my head to know that the unicorn had arrived.

"No, no, we were only talking."

The unicorn sighed. "Yes, I know; you will talk to creatures like this. But will you spare a few moments for me? It is enough to try even my perfect patience. Won't you ever find time for some"--the beast paused meaningfully--"significant conversation?"

"It is time we got serious," Death interrupted hastily, as if afraid of being drowned out by the ever-increasing group of companions.

"So, you're having a party," yet another gruff voice commented loudly. "And you didn't wait for me?"

It was Jeffrey the wolf. "Hey. Never mind. I'm here now. It's amazing how a quest can come alive when there's a talking wolf along!"

"Or you will never see your master again!" Death shouted over the wolf.

"Doom," Hendrek added.

"Ho hey, ho hey! And after work we play!" a number of voices rang out in song. To my surprise, it was the Seven Other Dwarves.

"Hey!" the Brownie called. "You guys sing, too?"

"Do we sing, too?" one of the dwarves, whose name was Nasty, mimicked. "Of course we do, tiny. It's in our contract!"

"That is correct," sniffed another dwarve named Snooty.

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"It is one of the privileges most cherished by the Dwarve Union. Not that you'd know anything about that!"

"Yes, yes, most certainly." Smarmy, the leader of the dwarves, stepped forward. "Singing happy work songs is a tradition greatly cherished by dwarvedom. Unfortunately, we are a bit out of practice, for Mother Duck never much liked it. But with her off fighting the Netherhells, we thought it was high time we got in a few verses."

"You guys ever think about going into vaudeville?" Hubert queried. "We're always looking for opening acts."

"Will someone listen to me?" Death demanded.