"Andre Norton - Quag Keep" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

8 Black Death Defied

9 Harp Magic

10 The Domain of Lichis

11 Lichis the Golden

12 The Sea of Dust

13 The Liche Ship

14 Rockna the Brazen

15 Singing Shadow

16 Into the Quagmire

17 Quag Heart

18 Roll the Dice

1
Greyhawk

Eckstern produced the package with an exaggerated flourish and lifted the lid of the box to pluck
out shredded packing with as much care as if he were about to display the crown jewels of some
long-forgotten kingdom. His showmanship brought the others all closer. Eckstern liked such chances to
focus attention, and tonight, as the referee chosen to set up the war game, his actions were backed with
special authority.
He unwrapped a length of cotton and set out on the table, between the waiting game sheets, a
two-inch figure, larger than any they habitually played with. It was, indeed, a treasure. A
swordsman-complete with shield on which a nearly microscopic heraldic design blazed forth in brilliant
enamel paints. The tiny face of the figure was sternly set above the rim of the shield, shadowed by a
helmet with a small twist of spike rising from it. There was an indication of mail on the body which had
been modeled as if the figure were advancing a step in grim determination. The sword in the hand was a
length of glittering metal, more like well-polished steel than lead which was the usual material for playing
figures.
Martin stared at it in fascination. He had seen many expertly painted and well-positioned
war-game figures but this-this gave him a queer feeling, as if it had not been turned out of a mold, but
rather had been designed by a sculptor in the form of a man who once had lived.
"Where-where did you get that?" Harry Conden's slight hesitation of speech was more
pronounced than usual.
"A beauty, isn't it?" Eckstern purred. "A new company - Q K Productions - and you wouldn't
believe the price either. They sent a letter and a list-want to introduce their pieces to 'well-known'
players. After we won those two games at the last convention, I guess they had us near the top of their
list. . ."
 To Martin, Eckstern's explanation was only a meaningless babble. His hand had gone out without
his conscious willing, to touch fingertip on that shield, make sure it did exist. It was true that the makers of