"Jane Lindskold - Lord Demon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

the gutters," to the sixth, "and something of both has stuck."
They hung their heads. I left a long silence. Finally, the fourth one spoke: "It was Tuvoon, the Smoke Ghost," he said.
I looked at him.
"I know that you would know our sort does not do this kind of thing much these days. You would want to know who gav
the shen coin and told us when and where to do the man," he went on.
I nodded.
"This is a very grave charge," I said.
He, too, nodded.
"One I not make lightly," he proceeded, "without solid proof for you, and knowing it will probably cost my life."
At that, the sixth one howled.
"Shouldn't've said nothing!" it told the other. "Now he do flash-burn and we die."
The other shuffled and struck his fellow's head. "Sometimes lie is bad," he said, "and sometimes silence. This time only tr
maybe save us. Use head. Learn to think."
Rocking on his stony base, the sixth demon prostrated himself at my feet and lay still,
"See? He learn a little," said his companion, and I realized that in his odd way he was slipping in a word for his buddy's li
"Stay on your belly," I told the one who was kowtowing, and, releasing some of the stiffness from the fourth demon's leg
motioned him a little off to the side.
"Did Tuvoon give you any indication why he did what he did?" I whispered.
It was about then, I saw that the little demon realized that they might live if his buddy didn't learn any more of what we w
saying. He withdrew even farther away, lowered his voice even more.
"No, sir," he said, gesturing across the park toward an alley. "Another demon found us scrounging over there, and he sou
us out on the job. That was yesterday. Said the man might be by tonight because he often passes this way on Saturdays. T
demon offered shen coin, and, when we agreed, gave us a few then. Told us Tuvoon would be in town two days off. We
supposed to get the rest tomorrow."
"Did he say anythingтАФanything at allтАФindicating why he might have wanted this thing done?"
"No, sir. He did not."
"Are you supposed to see Tuvoon tomorrow?"
"That's right"
I glared at the stars.
"Eve?"
"Yes."
"Tell him that I will be waiting tomorrow night at this time, and at this place's analog on our own plane, and that I will brin
piece of his soul with me, for I demand full satisfaction."
I heard the little demon swallow, then, "Yes, sir," having heard ofтАФbut I'm sure never seenтАФa duel of this sort.
After freeing him and the other demon, I gently took Ollie down from his tree and turned away.
"Uh, we can do that for you, boss," said the demon with whom I'd held the most converse.
"No. You've touched him enough. You're free. I'm letting you and the other worthless one go. Stay out of my way, and y
go on living. What's your name, anyhow?''
"Ba Wa," he replied.
"Ba Wa," I repeated. "I will remember you."
To his credit, he did not blanch more than a little.
"I just want to say that I'm sorry, again, though, Lord Demon."
I did not respond, and then he was gone.



TWO

As I entered the bottle, I could hear Shiriki's and Chamballa's great, long, mournful cries. They knew.
I bathed Ollie in his bathroom, dressed him in one of his best suits, and laid a preservation spell upon his entire room. I cl