"L. Sprague De Camp - Conan - The Curse of the Monolith" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

"This person is so fortunate as to possess a sovereign remedy for
sleeplessness. A gifted apothecary concocted it for me from an
ancient recipe: a decoction of lily buds ground into cinnamon and
spiced with poppy seeds..."

"No, nothing," growled Conan. "I thank you, Duke, but it's
something about this accursed place. Some uncanny premonition
keeps me wakeful when, after a long day's ride, I should be as
weary as a stripling after his first night's bout of love."

The duke's features moved a trifle, as if he winced at Conan's
crudity or was it merely a flicker of the firelight? In any
case, he suavely replied, "I think I understand the misgivings of
the excellent commander. Nor are such disquieting emotions
unusual in this ah this legend-fraught valley. Many men have
perished here."

"A battlefield, eh?" grunted Conan.

The duke's narrow shoulders twitched beneath the green cloak.
"Nay, nothing like that, my heroic Western friend. This spot
lies near the tomb of an ancient king of my people: King Hsia of
Kusan. He caused his entire royal guard to be beheaded and their
heads buried with him, that their spirits should continue to
serve him in the next world. The common superstition, however,
avers that the ghosts of these guardsmen march in review, up and
down this valley." The soft voice dropped even lower. "Legend
also states that a magnificent treasure of gold and precious
jewels was buried with him; and this tale I believe to be true."

Conan pricked up his ears. "Gold and gems, eh? Has it ever been
found, this treasure?"

The Khitan surveyed Conan for a moment with an oblique,
contemplative gaze. Then, as if having reached some private
decision, he replied, "No, Lord Conan; for the precise location
of the trove is not known save to one man."

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Conan's interest was quite visible now. "To whom?" he demanded
bluntly.

The Khitan smiled. "To my unworthy self, of course."

"Crom and Erlik! If you've known where this loot was hidden, why