"Xanth 18 - Geis Of The Gargoyle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Xanth)

In a moment a mature winged centaur emerged, tying
her damp hair back; she must have been interrupted as she
washed it. "Metria has a split personality?" she inquired.

"Emotional havoc can do that," Mentia said. "I couldn't
stand her half-souled loving attitude, so I fissioned off.
Now I'm in charge of the mischief. But I got distracted by
this ugly brute, so I'm guiding him to the Good Magi-
cian's castle. But the Gap Chasm's in the way, and he's
too solid to fly, so-"

Chex gazed at Gary. "Why you're a gargoyle, aren't
you?" she asked. "We seldom see your kind here."

"That's because most of us are purifying the waters
flowing in from Mundania, according to our geis," he ex-
plained. "But now if I can find a better way-"

"Of course," she agreed immediately. Centaurs, he re-
membered, were very bright. "And you need to fly across
the Gap Chasm. I can certainly help you to do that."

"You can?" he asked, amazed. "But my weight-"

She turned and flicked him with her tail. Suddenly he
felt light-headed and light-bodied. He flapped his wings
experimentally, and sailed into the air. She had made him
so light that he was able to fly!

"Thank you," Mentia said. "Some day I shall fail to do
you mischief, when I have the chance."

Chex smiled. "That seems a fair bargain. We do need
clean water. In any event, we winged monsters have to
help each other."

Mentia rose into the air. "I knew that," she said. Then,
to Gary: "Move it, monster. You don't want to be over the
chasm when her magic wears off."

"Just how big is this crevice?" he asked.

GEIS OF THE GARGOYLE 15

"You'll see."

They flew south as the sun made a nest of colors to the
east and lifted itself out of the clouds. Suddenly an enor-
mous chasm opened out below. It was so wide and deep