"Zelazny, Roger - The George Business" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

The George Business
Roger Zelazny

Year: 1980
Deep in his lair, Dart twisted his and golden length about his small hoard, his sleep troubled by dreams of a series of identical armored assailants. Since dragons' dreams are always prophetic, he woke with a shudder, cleared his throat to the point of sufficient illumination to check the state of his treasure, stretched, yawned and set forth up the tunnel to consider the strength of the opposition. If it was too great, he would simply flee, he decided. The hell with the hoard, it wouldn't be the first time.

As he peered from the cave mouth, he beheld a single knight in mismatched armor atop a tired-looking grey horse, just rounding the bend. His lance was not even couched, but still pointing skyward.

Assuring himself that the man was unaccompanied, he roared and slithered forth.

"Halt," he bellowed, "you who are about to fry!"

The knight obliged.

"You're just the one I came to see," the man said. "I have Ч"

"Why," Dart asked, "do you wish to start this business up again? Do you realize how long it has been since a knight and dragon have done battle?"

"Yes, I do. Quite awhile. But I Ч"

"It is almost invariably fatal to one of the parties concerned. Usually your side."

"Don't I know it. Look, you've got me wrong Ч"

"I dreamt a dragon-dream of a young man named George with whom I must do battle. You bear him an extremely close resemblance."

"I can explain. It's not as bad as it looks. You see Ч"

"Is your name George?"

"Well, yes. But don't let that bother you Ч"

"It does bother me. You want my pitiful hoard? It wouldn't keep you in beer money for a season. Hardly worth the risk.

"I'm not after your hoard Ч"

"I haven't grabbed off a virgin in centuries. They're usually old and tough, anyhow, not to mention hard to find."

"No one's accusing Ч"

"As for cattle, I always go a great distance. I've gone out of my way, you might say, to avoid getting a bad name for my own territory."

"I know you're no real threat here. I've I've researched it quite carefully Ч"

"And do you think that armor will really protect you when I exhale my deepest, hottest flames?"

"Hell, no! So don't do it, huh? If you'd please Ч"

"And that lance... You're not even holding it properly."