"Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - Rose of the Prophet 02 - The Paladin of the Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

"I assure you, Master," said Pukah, wiping blood from his mouth, "there were
only the two of usтАФ"
Kaug kicked him in the face again.
"Come, come, loyal little Pukah! Where may I find the lovely body belonging to
that charming voice I heard when I entered my dwelling this night?"
"Alas, My Master, you see before you the only bodies belonging to the only
voices you heard in your dwelling place. It depends upon your taste, of
course, but I consider my body the loveliest of the twoтАФ"
Nonchalantly, Kaug drove his foot into the young djinn's kidney. Real or
imaginary, the pain was intense. Pukah doubled up with a groan.
"I heard a voiceтАФa female voice, little Pukah!"
"I have been told I have a most melodious ring to myтАФ ughh!"
Kaug kicked the djinn in the other kidney. The force of the blow rolled Pukah
over on his back. Drawing his sword, the 'efreet straddled the young djinn,
his weapon poised above a most vital and vulnerable area on Pukah's body.
"So, little Pukah, you claim the female voice was yours. It wdl be, my friend,
if you do not tell me the truth and reveal the whereabouts of this
trespasser!"
Covering himself with his hands, Pukah gazed up at the enraged 'efreet with
pleading eyes. "O My Master! Have mercy, I beg of you! You are distressed by
the unwarranted attack on your person by one who should, by rights, be your
slave"тАФa muffled shriek from SondтАФ"and that has thrown a cog (ha, ha, small
joke) in the wheel of your usually brilliant thought process! Look around,
Great Kaug! Could anyone or anything remain hidden from your all-seeing gaze,
O Mighty Servant of the Most Holy Quar?"
This question stumped the 'efreet. If he said yes, he admitted he wasn't
all-seeing, and if he said no, he granted that Pukah was right and that
heтАФKaugтАФhadn't really heard die strange voice after all. The 'efreet sent his
piercing gaze into all parts of the cave, dissecting every shadow, using all
his senses to detect a hidden presence in the dwelling.
Kaug felt a thrill in his nerve endings, as ff someone had
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THE PALADIN OF THE NIGHT
31
touched his skin with a feather. There VMS another being in his cave, someone
who had the ability to enter his dwelling without permission, someone who was
able to hide herself from his sight. A film of white mist blocked his vision.
Kaug rubbed his eyes, but that did nothing to dispel the odd sensation.
What should he do? Castrate Pukah? The 'efreet pondered. Other than providing
a bit of mild amusement, it would probably accomplish little else. Such an act
of violence might actually frighten the creature into disappearing cora-f
pletely. No, she must be lulled into a sense of well-being.
I will give Pukah die hemp and watch him weave the rope that will go around
his neck, said Kaug to himself. Aloud, be intoned, "You are right, little
Pukah. I must have been imagining things." Sheathing his sword, the 'efreet
kindly helped the djinn to his feet. Kaug wiped slime from Pukah s shoulder
and solicitously plucked fronds of seaweed from die djinn's pantalons.
"Forgive me. I have a quick temper. A felling of mine, I admit, pond's attempt
on my life upset me." The 'efreet pressed his hand over his huge chest. "It