"Anthony Piers - Incarnations Of Immortality 2 - Bearing an Hourglass [uc]" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

He extended his strong hand.

Norton clasped it, expecting a crunching grip—and
encountered air. He brought his hand back and touched
Gawain's arm. There was nothing; his hand passed
through, suit and arm without resistance, disappearing
into the man's body. "You certainly are!" he agreed
ruefully. "No wonder I didn't hear you approaching! You
look so solid—"

"Do I?" Gawain asked, becoming translucent.

"I never met a real, live—uh—"

Gawain laughed. "Real, at any rate." He firmed up to
solid semblance again, having made his point. "Norton,
I like you. You're independent, self-sufficient, uncon-
ceited, generous, and open. I know I'd have enjoyed your
company when I was alive. I think I have a favor to ask
of you."

"I'll do any man a favor—any woman, too!—but I
don't think there's very much I can do for a ghost. I
presume you're not much interested in physical things."

"Interested, but not able," the ghost said. "Sit down,
eat your supper. And listen, if you will, to my story. Then
the nature of the favor will be apparent."

"Always glad for company, real or imaginary," Norton
said, sitting down on a conveniently placed rock.

"I'm no hallucination," the ghost assured him. "I'm a
genuine person who happens to be dead."




4

And while Norton ate, the specter made his pre-
sentation. "I was born into a wealthy and noble family,"
Gawain said. "I was named after Sir Gawain of the ancient
Round Table of King Arthur's Court; Sir Gawain is a
distant ancestor, and great things were expected of me
from the outset. Before I could walk I could handle a
knife; I shredded my mattress and crawled out to stalk
the household puk—"

"Puck?"