"Andre Norton - Here Abide Monsters" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

"But if it's the only way to get into the Wilson place-" Nick knew the legend
of the Cut-Off, but he could also understand the frustration of outsiders ne
eding an easy access.
"Yes, I guess it is a case of needs drive. You can't get the county interest
ed in laying out a new road to serve just a few summer cabins because there'
s a queer story about the one already there and waiting to be used. You know
, this writer-" Ham tapped the book with a fingertip-"has some mighty intere
sting things to say. And this one"-he indicated the More "Things" volume-"ma
kes it plain, for instance, that we think we know all about this world, that
it's all been explored. But that isn't the truth, there are whole sections
we know nothing about at all, mountains never climbed, places where nobody c
ivilized has ever been."
" 'Here abide monsters,'" Nick quoted.
"What's that?" Ham looked up sharply.
"Dad's got a real old map he bought in London last year-had it framed and h
ung it down in his office. It shows England and part of Europe, but on our
side of the ocean just some markings and dragons or sea serpents, with lett
ering-'Here abide monsters.' They filled up the unknown then with what they
imagined might be there."
"Well, we don't know a lot, and most people don't want to learn more'n what'
s right before their eyes. You point out things that don't fit into what the
y've always accepted, and they say it's all your imagination and nothing lik
e that is real. Only we know about the Cut-Off and what's happened there."
"What do you think really happened, Ham?" Nick had taken a Coke from the
ice chest, snapped off the cap, and now drank.
"There's this Bermuda Triangle, only this writer Sander-son says it's no 't
riangle,' but much larger, and also they've made some tests and it's only o
ne of ten such places all around the world. Ships and people and planes dis
appear there regularly-nothing ever found to say what happened to them. A w
hole flight of Navy planes once and then the rescue plane that went out aft
er them! It may have something to do with magnetic forces at those points.
He makes a suggestion about breaking into another space-time. Maybe we have
one of these 'triangles' right here. I sure wish that Hasentine guy had sh
own up. About time some of the brains did some serious investigating. And ..."
What he was about to say was drowned out by a wild yapping from without.
Rufus, his back arched, his tail a brush, gave a warning yowl in reply. H
am swung around.
"Now what the heck's all that about?" He headed for the door.
Rufus, ears flattened against his skull, his Siamese blue eyes slitted, was h
issing, giving now and then a throaty growl of threat. The yapping outside wa
s apparently not in the least intimidated.
A car, or rather a jeep, had drawn up, and a girl slid from under the wheel,
but had not yet stepped out. She was too busy trying to restrain a very exc
ited and apparently furious Pekingese that fought against her hold, his popp
ing eyes fixed on Rufus.
She glanced up at Ham behind the screen, Nick looking over his shoulder.
"Please," she was laughing a little. "Can you cope with your warrior? I want
to come in and I certainly can't let go of Lung Hsin!"
"Sorry." Ham stopped to catch up Rufus with practiced ease in avoiding the
claws the big cat had already extended to promise battle. "Sorry, Rufe, you