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

"That is a shame. Well, we tried."

"Yes. So I just stopped by to thank you and let you know how it all turned out. It would have been a good idea Ч if it had worked."

"You could hardly have seen such nuptials. Ч You know, I've spent the entire day thinking about the affair. We did manage it awfully well."

"Oh, no doubt about that. It went beautifully."

"I was thinking... how'd you like a chance to get your money back?"

"What have you got in mind?"

"Uh Ч When I was advising you earlier that you might not be happy with the lady, I was trying to think about the situation in human terms. Your desire was entirely understandable to me otherwise. In fact, you think quite a bit like a dragon."

"Really?"

"Yes. It's rather amazing, actually. Now Ч realizing that it only failed because of a fluke, your idea still has considerable merit."

"I'm afraid I don't follow you."

"There is Ч ah Ч a lovely lady of my own species whom I have been singularly unsuccessful in impressing for a long while now. Actually, there are an unusual number of parallels in our situations."

"She has a large hoard, huh?"

"Extremely so."

"Older woman?"

"Among dragons, a few centuries this way or that are not so important. But she, too, has other admirers and seems more attracted to the brash variety."

"Uh-huh. I begin to get the drift. You gave me some advice once. I'll return the favor. Some things are more important than hoards."

"Name one."

"My life. If I were to threaten her, she might do me in all by herself, before you could come to her rescue."

"No, she's a demure little thing. Anyway, it's all a matter of timing. I'll perch on a hilltop nearby Ч I'll show you where Ч and signal you when to begin your approach. Now, this time I have to win, of course. Here's how we'll work it..."

.

George sat on the white charger and divided his attention between the distant cavemouth and the crest of a high hill off to his left. After a time, a shining winged form flashed through the air and settled upon the hill. Moments later it raised one bright wing.

He lowered his visor, couched his lance and started forward. When he came within hailing distance of the cave he cried out:

"I know you're in there, Megtag! I've come to destroy you and make off with your hoard! You godless beast! Eater of children! This is your last day on earth!"

An enormous burnished head with cold green eyes emerged from the cave. Twenty feet of flame shot from its huge mouth and scorched the rock before it. George halted hastily. The beast looked twice the size of Dart and did not look in the least retiring. Its scales rattled like metal as it began to move forward.

"Perhaps I exaggerated..." George began, and heard the frantic flapping of giant vanes overhead.