"C M Kornbluth - Thirteen O'Clock" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

whenever I hold a reception or anything of that sort. Just images to serve and take wraps. They can't
fight."

Peter tightened his jaw. "You must be in a bad way." The girl looked him full in the eye, her lip trembling.
She choked out, "I'm in such a hell of a spot!" and then the gates opened and she was weeping as if her
heart would break. He

frozenly, wondering how he could comfort a despondent sorceress. "There, there," he said tentatively.

She wiped her eyes and looked at him. "I'm sorry," she said sniffing. "But it's seeing a friendly face again
after all . these years-no callers but leprechauns and things. You don't know what it's like."

"I wonder," said Peter, "how you'd like to live in Brain-tree."

"I don't know," she said brightly. "But how could I get there?"

'There should be at least one way."

"But why-what was that?" shot out the girl, snatching up a wand.

"Knock on the door," said Peter. "Shall I open it?"

"Please," said Melicent nervously, holding up the slender staff. He stood aside and swung the door wide.
In walked a curious person of mottled red and white coloring. One eye was small and blv^e, the other
large and savagely red. His teeth were quite normal-except that the four canines protruded two inches
each out of his mouth. He walked with a limp; one shoe seemed curiously small. And there was a sort of
bulge in the trousers that he wore beneath his formal morning-coat.

"May I introduce myself," said the individual, removing his sleek black topper. "I am Balthazar Pike. You
must be Miss Melicent? And this-ah-zombie?" He indicated Peter with a leer.

"Mr. Packer, Mr. Pike," said the girl. Peter stared in horror while the creature murmured, "Enchanted."

Melicent drew herself up proudly. "And this, I suppose," she said, "is the end?"

"I fear so, Miss Melicent," said the creature regretfully. "I have my orders. Your house has been
surrounded by picked forces; any attempt to use your blast-finger or any other weapon of offense will be
construed as resistance. Under the laws of civilized warfare we are empowered to reduce you to ashes
should such resistance be forthcoming. May I have your reply?"

The girl surveyed him haughtily, then, with a lighting-like sweep of her wand, seemed to blot out every
light in the room. Peter heard her agitated voice, "We're in a neutral screen, Mr. Packer. I won't be able
to keep it up for long. Listen! That

was one of Almarish's stinkers-big cheese. He didn't expect any trouble from me. He'll take me captive
as soon as they break the screen down. Do you want to help me?"

"Of course!"

"Good. Then you find the third oak from the front door on the left and walk widdershins three times.