"Eugeny L.Schwarz. Dragon (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

keep saying: "What's wrong, Marichen?". Those dear, poor people! And there's
not a word more out of me.
Lancelot. All right, just tell me who they are, your masters.
Cat. Mister Archivist Charlemagne and his only daughter, the one with
such gentle paws, the lovely, dear, soft Elsa.
Lancelot. And which one of them is in trouble?
Cat. Ah, she is -- and so are we all!
Lancelot. And what is it? Come on!
Cat. Meow! It is almost four hundred years now that there's a dragon
living over our town.
Lancelot. A dragon? Excellent!
Cat. He imposed a tribute on the town. Every year the dragon selects a
maiden. And we give her to him without so much as a meow. And he takes her
to his cave. And we never see her again. It's said that they die there from
disgust. Pfft! Off! Off you go! Ffff!
Lancelot. Who?
Cat. The dragon! He chose our Elsa! That cursed lizard!
Lancelot. How many heads does he have?
Cat. Three.
Lancelot. Impressive. What about paws?
Cat. Four.
Lancelot. Well, that's decent. Talons?
Cat. Sure. Five talons on each paw. Each one the size of an antler.
Lancelot. You don't say! Are they sharp, those talons?
Cat. Like knives.
Lancelot. I see. How about breathing fire?
Cat. That, too.
Lancelot. Real fire?
Cat. Burns the forest.
Lancelot. Uh-huh. Has he got scales?
Cat. He got scales.
Lancelot. And them scales, tough, I gather?
Cat. Solid.
Lancelot. No, really, how tough?
Cat. Couldn't cut'em with a diamond.
Lancelot. I see. Size?
Cat. Like a church.
Lancelot. OK, I get the picture. Thanks, Cat.
Cat. Are you going to fight him?
Lancelot. We'll see.
Cat. I'm begging you -- please challenge him to a fight. He'll kill
you, of course, but what with the commotion and all, we'd be able to dream
in the meantime in front of the fireplace that by accident or by miracle,
with something or other, maybe, possibly -- you'd kill him too.
Lancelot. Thanks much, Cat.
Cat. Get up.
Lancelot. What is it?
Cat. They're coming.
Lancelot. I wish I'd like her, if only I would like her! This usually
helps so much ... (Looks out the window). I do like her! Hey, Cat, she's a