"Michael Swanwick - 'Hello,' said the Stick" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swanwick Michael)

his strength was gone. His eyes filled with tears. “Oh, foul and treacherous stick, to kill a man so!”
 “Is this crueler than hacking a man to death with a big knife? I don't see how. But it's not necessary
for you to die.”
“No?”
“No. If you grab your gear and hurry, you just might make it to the Iron Duke's camp in time. The
medics there can heal you-antiradiation treatments aren't proscribed by the Protocols. And, to tell you
the truth, you do more damage to the Iron Duke's cause alive and using up his personnel and resources
than you do neatly dead in the moorlands. Go! Now!”
With a curse, the soldier kicked the stick as hard as he could. Then he grabbed his pack and
shambled off.
It was not long before he disappeared over the horizon.
A day passed. Then another.
A young man came trotting down the dirt track. He carried a sword and a light pack. He had the
look of a mercenary.
“Hello,” said the stick.


Copyright © 2002 by Michael Swanwick.