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prepared low-grade confusion spells that buzzed through the ramshackle
structure like a swarm of drunken mosquitoes. The attackers passed inside,
stepping over and around frightened, shivering families who, till now, had
considered themselves wildly fortunate to have a roof over their heads, even
if that meant renting floor space in a hallway. Both teams posted a man who
would make sure no one went outside. Another two men met at the foot of the
rickety stair. They would prevent movement up or down. Goblin and One-Eye met
at the cellar entrance and shared a few complaints about being desperately
undermanned, then a few exaggerated courtesies as each offered the other the
opportunity to go down into the enemy's den first.
Goblin finally accepted on the basis of superior youth, quickness and alleged
intelligence. He launched a couple of luminary floating stars into the pit,
where the darkness was blacker than Kina's heart.
"Here!" Goblin said. "Ha! We've got--"
Something like a flaming tiger burst out of nowhere. It leaped at Goblin. A
shadow drifted in from the side. It flicked something long and thin that
looped around the little wizard's neck.
One-Eye's cane came down on Narayan's wrist hard enough to crack bone. The
living saint of the Stranglers lost his rumel, which flew across the cellar.
One-Eye's off hand tossed something over Goblin's head, toward the source of
the tiger. A ghostly light floated up like a wisp of luminescent swamp gas. It
moved suddenly, enveloping a young woman. She began to slap at herself, trying
to wipe it off.
Goblin did something quick, while she was distracted. She collapsed. "Goddamn!
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Goddamn! It worked. I'm a genius. Admit it. I'm a fucking genius."
"Who's a genius? Who came up with the plan?"
"Plan? What plan? Success is in the details, runt. Who came up with the
details? Any damned fool could've said let's go catch them two."
Both men tied limbs as they nattered.
One-Eye said, "Plan the details on this. We got to get out of here with these
people. Through all the Greys in the world."
"Already covered. They've got so much trouble they won't have time to worry
about any damned lepers." He started trying to get a yellow outfit over the
head of the Daughter of Night. "Remind me to warn them back at the shop that
this one can put together an illusion or two."
"I know that's the way its supposed to go." One-Eye began dragging Narayan
Singh into another yellow outfit. In a moment Goblin would trade his brown for
yellow, too. Upstairs, the four Company brothers, all of Shadar origin, were
turning themselves into Greys. "I'm saying it ain't got a prayer of working."
"That because I planned it?"
"Absolutely. You're beginning to catch on. Welcome to reality."
"It goes to shit in our hands, you can blame it on Sleepy, not me. It was her
idea."
"We got to do something about that girl. She thinks too damned much. Will you
quit farting around? Them goddamn Greys out there are going to have time to go
home for lunch."
"Don't hit him so hard. You want him to walk out of here under his own power."
"You talking to me? What the hell you doing with... get your hand out of
there, you old pervert."
"I'm putting a control amulet over her heart, you dried-up old turd. So she
won't embarrass us before we get her home."
"Oh, yeah. Sure you are. But why don't I look on the bright side? At least
you're interested in girls again. She built as nice as her mother?"
"Better."
"Watch your mouth. The place might be haunted. And I got a suspicion maybe
some of those ghosts can talk to each other, no matter what Murgen claims."
One-Eye began to bully the groggy Narayan Singh up the steps.
"I do believe this is going to work," One-Eye crowed. The combination of Greys
and lepers seemed the perfect device for exiting the Thieves'
Garden--particularly now that the real Greys were running around distracted.
"I don't want to break your heart, old-timer," Goblin said. "But I think we
done been fished." He was looking over his shoulder.
One-Eye looked back. "Shit!"
A small flying carpet dropped toward them, accompanied by crows making no
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sounds at all. Soulcatcher. And her very stance suggested mischievous glee.
She threw something.
"Spread out!" Goblin barked. "Don't let those two get away." He faced the
descending carpet, heart in this throat. If it came to a direct face-off, he
was going to get splattered like a stomped egg. He extended a gloved hand,
caught the falling black globule, whipped his arm in a circle and launched the
missile back into the sky.
Soulcatcher shrieked, outraged. The people of Taglios did not have that kind
of nerve. She drove the carpet to one side, avoiding the black globe. And well
she moved when she did.
Her luck had served her yet again. A screaming fireball ripped right through [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]