"Anthony Piers - Incarnations Of Immortality 6 - For Love Of Evil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

need the professional touch, as now, so the Sorcerer was tol-
erated. The Abbot saw a way to make the Sorcerer really
uncomfortable, and he pounced on it. 'I am very glad to hear
that,' he said, rubbing his hands together. 'Children are the
Lord's blessing. I shall perform the ceremony of adoption
straightaway.' And the Sorcerer was trapped in this bed of
thistles of the Lord's making; he would have to adopt and raise

FOR LOVE OF EVIL 7

the sacrificial baby. Thus was my life spared, and I have not
had occasion to regret it."

He looked again at Jolie, and caught her in a tentative smile.
He smiled in return, encouraging her. She was now halfway
through her feast of bread, still chewing deliberately, as di-
rected.

"The sheep arrived, and the sacrifice was made," he re-
sumed. "And do you know, the weather did tarn, and rain
came within the day. It seemed that the sacrifice had been
effective. The Abbot performed the ceremony of adoption, and
I became the Sorcerer's son. I understand it was difficult for
the Sorcerer to mask his scowl, or the Abbot his smirk. Even
the Lord, when he pondered the matter, considered it a fine
joke. But he remained neutral, for he required me good offices
of both the Abbot and me Sorcerer. He went so far as to
guarantee a nominal stipend for me care of die boy, so mat he
might never be in want. The Abbot matched him by guaran-
teeing a proper and churchly education for the lad. Thus I
received both material and spiritual blessings, to the discom-
fiture of my adopted father. It was impossible for him to renege,
or to dispose of me privately; me Abbot watched like a hawk.
Thus me joke became a fact, and I was indeed the heir to me
Sorcerer. But do you know, I somehow never did take a liking
to the notion of human sacrifice? I am not certain I ever quite
figured out why."

Now Jolie could not prevent her laugh. Her face illuminated
with me momentary pleasure of it, becoming pretty. She had
finished her bread, while Parry's had only one bite from it.

"Here, take mine," he said, offering it to her. "I find I
would rather talk man eat; you are a good listener."

She tried to demur, but she remained hungry, and her protest
lacked force. She accepted the bread, and ate it with better
confidence.

"Then the oddest thing developed," Parry said. "I turned