"P. N. Elrod - Adventures Of Myhr" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

family—but after he got past the first shock over my looks I offered to sing and story-tell to bring in more
customers, this in exchange for food, board, and tips. He was on the ball enough to see my face as a
potential to draw in crowds.

"I run a family place," he said. "Has to be clean stories."

"All of them?" I was a little short on those.

"All of them."

"Okay, I think I can do that." So I wouldn't be able to share my stockpile of dirty jokes, I still had all the
rest of Hollywood to draw on. He wanted a sample before taking me on, so I sang the Beatles' "When
I'm 64," then rendered up a ten-minute medieval version ofCasablanca , summarizing like crazy. I kept
the Bogie impersonation intact, though, since I'm very good at it, and sang "As Time Goes By" in good
voice. Instead of a plane, Ilsa left in a carriage. I try to avoid sad tales, but this one is always a winner
with the women in the audience. When I got to the "beautiful friendship" line, the innkeeper's
eavesdropping wife was streaming tears. I'd called it right again.

"Oh, that's the mostbeautiful story," she said, blowing her nose into her apron. "Clem, we keep him!
He'll be better than that juggler who broke all the cups. And such a sweet face! And those gold eyes!
Just like our old tabby!" She looked ready to scratch me behind the ears. I prefer belly rubs.

"Okay," said Clem, rounding on me. "You start today. Get outside and sing, and tell people to come by
this afternoon for more stories."

"What about an evening show?"

"We'll just have the people staying here already—which would be you and your friend. There's a city
curfew. Very strict. Everyone has to be off the streets by the sunset bell or the watch jails you."

Thatwas useful to know. "Any reason behind this?"

"It's for our own good, so says Overduke Anton."

"Lots of crime?"

"Not since curfew started. There's less thievery with all the people in their own homes, so it makes sense
to me. You want to be out and about at night you're either one of the overduke's watch or up to no
good."

Nice black-and-white reasoning there, but it'd be tough on Terrin. The only time he liked being out was
after dark. I'd have to make sure he knew the rules. He was presently talking to Clem's wife about soup
recipes. In his checkered past he'd done some chef-type training at a restaurant and knew a thing or
three about flavorings. He could charm people, too—when he was in the mood—and they were having a
laugh about something or other. I beamed relief. It looked like we'd be comfy enough for the duration.

We took our packs up to the room; it was a small one, of course, but being virtually rent-free I wasn't
complaining. I mentioned the curfew to Terrin, but he said he was staying in anyway. He grabbed the
cover off the bed, wrapped it around his shoulders, then sank cross-legged to the floor.