"Derek Paterson - The Kaiserine's Champion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Paterson Derek)

When my Constables reported the incident to me, I knew there must be something special about you. I'm
glad my instincts proved correct. Tell me, when did the vampyre attack you?"

"What? OhтАФtwo nights ago.тАЭ I shuddered, picturing her hot feral eyes and her extended fangs only too
clearly.
 "You're certain?"

"I arrived in High Sazburg only yesterday aboard the coach from Guttzeig, so yes, I'm certain. Why?"

Schmidt said, тАЬIt is likely that the vampyre's gift still flows in your veins. As I have already intimated, it
will fade soonтАФperhaps tonight, or tomorrow, who can say? Fortunately, Herr Thenck arranged to have
you brought here in time. I am unable to initiate the start of the transformation from human to
vampyreтАФonly one ofthem can do thatтАФbut my elixir will stop the vampyre's gift from fading, and will
also permit the change to continue."

I stared at Schmidt blankly, wondering whether I'd heard correctly. тАЬMay I ask what you mean when
you say тАШcontinue,тАЩ Herr Doctor?тАЭ I asked.

"Come, Herr Manfred,тАЭ Thenck said, тАЬyou are not a child, and can be trusted to draw logical
conclusions. The vampyre's gift allowed you to defeat the Duke's Wardens. Without it, they would have
cut you into very small pieces. I instructed Doctor Schmidt to give you his elixir because without it, the
vampyre's gift would soon have left you. The elixir is already working, pulsing through your bloodstream,
transforming you into a vampyre.тАЭ He quickly held up a hand, stopping me before I could protest further.
тАЬLong before the transformation is complete, you will either have won or lost in the Arena. If you are still
alive at the end of the contest, Doctor Schmidt will give you the counter-elixir he has developed. This will
halt the change, and return you to your human state. Is this not so, Herr Doctor?"

"I have the counter-elixir ready,тАЭ Schmidt said, as if waiting for Thenck's cue.

"I want it now,тАЭ I said.

"Quite impossible,тАЭ Thenck said. тАЬIt is necessary for my plans that the vampyre's gift stays with you until
the Arena contest ends."

"Damn you, you should have askedтАФ!"

Thenck shrugged. тАЬTo what end? Do you wish to die in the Arena? Of course not. Had we explained
everything first then you would eventually have said yes anyway, but we could afford no delay, since we
had no idea when the vampyre's gift would leave you. What's done is done, for the good of all. You must
accept it, Herr Manfred. The alternative must surely be obvious?"

Rather than make me think rationally and strive to prolong my life, Thenck's unsubtle threat only served
to anger me. A low growl began somewhere deep in my throat and I decided there and then to end this
charade and take my chances against the guardsтАЩ muskets. A burning pressure built up within my skull
and my teeth throbbed. I took a half-step forward, intending to show Thenck exactly what I thought of
him and his damned plans.

A sharp pain on the back of my head made me turn around. Ludwig had climbed up onto a chair behind
me and struck me with a wooden club. I only had enough time to say, тАЬYou littleтАФ!тАЭ before the
laboratory floor reared up and slapped me hard.