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

for the storeroom temporarily." He departed with the kicking and growling
cat, and Nick opened the door for the girl. She still held the Peke who had
fallen silent upon witnessing the unwilling exit of the enemy.
"He's mighty little to think of taking on Rufus," Nick commented. "Rufe wo
uld take one good swipe at him and that would be that."
The girl frowned. "Don't be too sure about that! This breed were once know
n as dragon dogs, lion dogs-they helped guard palaces. For their size they
're about the bravest animals alive. Hush now, Lung, you've made your poin
t. We all know you're a brave, brave Dragon Heart." The Peke shot out a to
ngue and licked her cheek, then stared about him imperiously as if, having
chased the enemy from the field, this was now his domain.
"Now what can I do for you?" Ham came back, licking one finger where Rufu
s had apparently scored before being exiled.
"I need some directions, and a couple of cases of Coke and ..." She had Lun
g Hsin under one arm now as he no longer fought for freedom, and with her o
ther hand she pawed into the depths of her shoulder bag. "Here it is," she
said with relief. "Thought it might have gone down for the third time and I
would have to empty this thing to find it."
She had a list ready now. "If I can just make out Jane's writing. She really
ought to print, at least with that you can make educated guesses. That's ri
ght, two cases of Coke, one of Canada Dry, one of Pepsi. And she said you'd
be holding melons-oh, I should have told you, I'm Linda Durant and I'm picki
ng all this up for Jane Ridgewell-they've taken over the Wilson place. She s
aid she'd call and tell you."
Ham nodded. "She did and I've got it all together. Won't take us long to l
oad it up for you-" He glanced to Nick who obligingly moved away from the
counter again.
He was willing to give Ham a hand. Though they should be in no hurry to sp
eed this one off.
This Linda was almost as tall as Nick. A lot of girls were tall nowadays. Her
hair had been tied back from her face with a twist of bright red wool, but i
t was still long enough to lie on her shoulders in very dark strands. Her ski
n was creamy pale. If she tanned she had not started that process yet this se
ason.
Her jeans were as red as her hair tie and she had a sleeveless blouse of whi
te and blue dolphins leaping up and down on it. Sunglasses swung pendant fro
m another red tie about her neck and she wore thong sandals on her feet. He
was not usually so aware of a girl's clothes, but these fitted her as if to
complete a picture.
Nick shouldered one of the melons Ham pointed out and took a second under
his arm, carrying them out to the waiting jeep. Ham was busy stowing in
Coke.
"Wait 'til I get some sacks," he told Nick. "Shake those melons around and y
ou'll get them stove in."
Linda Durant had followed them out. "That sounds," she commented, "as if I
have a rough road ahead. You'll have to give directions, Jane's are vague."

For the first time Nick realized that she meant to travel the Cut-Off. He g
lanced at Ham who looked sober. After what Ham had just been saying-to send
a stranger, and a girl, down the Cut-Off-But if there was no other way in