"Charles L. Grant - Black Oak 03 - Winter Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Charles L)

GHOST STORY
"The story goes, sir," explained Vincent, "that you can, on certain nights when there is no moon, see Sir
Jarred and his mount wandering through Battle Wood. But the story also says that he can free himself and
return to Beale Hall.

"He grants a favor, you see, to those who ask at the right time, which, perhaps not surprisingly, no one
seems to be able to predict. But when the grant is given, the result adds one more soul to feed and
strengthen his own army of souls. And when enough souls are gathered, Sir Jarred will have his escape."

Proctor felt the road rise, felt the Bentley slow as it reached the top of a low hill. He leaned forward and
saw a scattering of lights in a broad valley below.

"For those who believe in this story," Proctor asked, "how do they know when a grant has been given? I
mean, how can they tell when Sir Jarred has taken another recruit for his army?"

"Oh, that's easy," the driver answered. "It's the same every time. Someone has good fortune ... and
someone else dies."

Prai se for Black Oak: Genesis

"Charles Grant is a grand storyteller who

never lets his audience know if they are on the

mortal or supernatural plane ...

a truly great gothic tale."

тАФHarriet Klausner, paintedrock.com
 Previously, in Black Oak

E
than Proctor, to a young woman who walks with him in a lonely town in Kansas: "Do you believe in ghosts?"

"It's very simple," says Taylor Blaine. "I want you, and Black Oak, to find my daughter. She's been missing thir-teen
years, but I know she's still alive. I don't care what you have to do, who you have to see, how much money you have
to spend, how many enemies you make ... I have contacts, Proctor, I have all the money you'll ever need.

"Find her. That's all I ask. Just find her."

In Atlantic City, a man named Shake Waldman is gunned down in the street. He's a small-time gambler, Waldman is,
and a source of occasional information for Black Oak and Proctor. As he lies dying on the sidewalk, rain falling into his
eyes, he sees the man who killed him, standing over him and smiling.

It's difficult to breathe, worse to think, but there's some-thing wrong with his assassin, and in the time between the
smile and the dying, he understands what it isтАФthe man has one glass eye, and it looks just like a marble Waldman
had as a kid.

Tiger's eye; it looks just like a tiger's eye.