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

around the edges.
 "And who might you be?тАЭ he asked.

"I said, Thenck sent me. Let me inside, quickly."

"He didn't tell me to expect any visitors. Go away."

He tried to shut the door but I stopped it with my foot and grabbed him by the front of his jacket, pulling
him up so his boots kicked air. The Wardens were less than a hundred paces away. I wanted to be
safely inside before they reached the doorway.

"Listen, Stumpy, I told you, Thenck sent me. This is where he lives, isn't it? So you'll let me inside, unless
you want me to bash your face in."

The dwarf rolled his eyes, inviting me to look behind him. I did, and saw two soldiers armed with
muskets at the other end of the entrance hall. They had me in their sights. The Tirpitz musket is the
deadliest piece of weaponry ever developed by the Kaiserine's clever scientists, and rarely misses at
ranges under two hundred paces. I put the dwarf down gently and brushed the front of his jacket to iron
out the creases.

"Thank you,тАЭ he said, grinning.

"Don't mention it,тАЭ I said through clenched teeth.

Then he looked me up and down, his nose wrinkling in distaste at my sweet bouquet. He snapped his
fingers in sudden realization. тАЬYou wouldn't be from the prison, would you?"

"How astute of you,тАЭ I said. тАЬIndeed I am."

He turned his head and said to the soldiers, тАЬEasy, lads. This one's expected, after all.тАЭ To my relief they
lowered their muskets, carefully thumbing the hammers forward.

The dwarf said, тАЬCome inside. I'm Ludwig. What should I call you?"

"The name's Manfred.тАЭ Thenck hadn't asked. Perhaps he'd already known. He seemed to know
everything else.

A distant cheer suddenly reached us from the direction of the city square, as a thousand throats cried
their appreciation of a fine morning's entertainment. My hand rose involuntarily to my throat. I didn't have
to be told the forger's neck had just been stretched. I hoped he'd died quickly and without pain, for he'd
suffered the fate that should have been mine.

Ludwig slapped the small of my back, being unable to reach my shoulders. тАЬCheer up! You look as if
someone's just walked over your grave. Come with me, I'll take you upstairs to the laboratory. You're
very fortunate, you know. Not everybody gets to meet the great Doctor Schmidt."

The dwarf slammed the door shut behind me just as the Duke's Wardens came into view. It had been
too close for comfort. Relief swept my guilt away and left me feeling light-headed and weak-kneed.

Ludwig waddled down the corridor, trailing his sword behind him. I followed meekly, until I drew level