"Asprin, Robert - Myth 09 - M.Y.T.H Inc. In Action" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asprin Robert)

"What did you just say about Skeeve?... And Miss Tananda here?"

The goons have come off the wall and are startin' to drift forward.

"I... um... that is..." the Deveel sez, lookin' around desperate-like.

"Perhaps you should consider being a bit more careful in your selection of words when describing an associate of mine... Or a lady who is a personal friend and present at the time."

"Well... You see..." Frumple tries, but the Don isn't finished yet.

"I've reconsidered my settlement offer," he sez. "I Don't think that fixin' this place up again will do... considering the damage to your reputation. I think we'll have to set you up in a whole new place."

This co nfu ses the Deveel, but he is scared enough to remember his manners.

"Thats nice of you, " he sez."but I Don't think..."

"... On Deva!" Don Bruce sez, drop pin' the other shoe.

For a second Frumple's eyes snap wide open. then he turns on us like a cornered rat.

"You... you gave me your word!" he screeches. "You said you wouldn't tell anyone..."

"They didn't have to tell me no thin'" Don Bruce snaps."I got ears in a lot of places... Indudin' the bazaar."

"But I can't go back there!"

"I know that, too," Don Bruce sez cold-like. "Still, that's our offer. Either we set you up on Deva... Or you stay right here and pay for your own repairs. Take it or Leave it."

Now, I hadn't known that Don Bruce knew that Frumple was a Deveel, just like I was unaware that the Deveel was unwelcome in his own dimension for some reason. My surprise, however, was nothin' compared to Frumple's reaction. He looks like he's in shock.

"I... I can't go back there, " he manages to repeat, finally.

"Good. Then it's settled." Don Bruce is suddenly friendly again. "Now why Don't you go ahead and take that walk... And by the way..."

The Deveel turns to find the Don starin' at him real hard-like.

"... Remember what I said... I got ears in a lot of places. If you start runnin' off at the mouth, or do any thing to give Skeeve, Miss Tananda, or the boys here any grief, I'll hear about it. Remember that. Now, get outta here."

Frumple slinks off, and as soon as he's gone, Don Bruce jerks his head at the goons. "You boys take a walk, too," he sez. "What we got to talk about is private... And Snake?"

"Yes, boss?"

"Keep an eye on that joker, will you? make sure he doesn't talk to anyone...'cause if he tries, I'm afraid he might have a little accident. know what I mean?"

"Got it, boss," Snake says, and follows the others out in to the night.

"Well, boys," Don Bruce sez, turnin' to us at last. "Now that we're alone, I think it's about time we had us a little talk."

He is real friendly as he says this, but as you yourselves can see from the preceedin' incident with Frumple, this is not as reassurin' as it would appear. It occurs to me that I would not like to sit in on a dragon Poker game with Don Bruce, as he would doubtless make you a friendly loan so's you could keep playin' while at the same time havin' a whole extra deck of cards hidden in his lap.