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Sween Myth-tery of Life :: Asprin Robert
Страница: 66 из 110If there is, then you know it's time to back off. Of course, if you find out that quittin' is harder than you thought, then you'll have another signal that you've got trouble."
A part of me bristled at the thought of having to ease up on my drinking, but I fought it down ... along with my flash of fear at what that bristling might imply.
"Okay, Nunzio," I said. "I'll do it. Thanks again. I appreciate how hard that was for you."
"Don't mention it, Boss. Glad I could help you."
He reached out and laid a hand on my shoulder in a rare display of comradeship.
"Personally, I don't think you have that much to worry about. If you've got a drinkin' problem, it's marginal at best. I mean, it's not like you've been blackin' out or anything."
Chapter Twelve:
"Let's see the instant replay on that!"
H. COSSELL
"HEY PARTNER! How's it going?"
I had been heading back toward my room with the vague thought of getting a little more sleep. The hail from Aahz, however, reduced my odds of success noticeably.
"Hi Aahz" I said, turning toward him. That put the sun in my eyes, so I stepped back slightly to find some shade.
He drew up close to me and peered at me carefully. I, in turn, tried my best to look relaxed and puzzled.
Finally he nodded to himself.
"You look okay," he declared.
"Shouldn't I?" I said, innocently.
"I heard you had quite a time last night," he explained, shooting me another sidelong glance.
"Thought I'd better look you up and survey the damage. I'll admit you seem to have weathered the storm well enough. Resilience of youth, I guess."
"Maybe the reports were exaggerated," I suggested hopefully.
"Not bloody likely," he snorted. "Chumley said he saw you and your date when you rolled back into the castle and, as you know, if anything, he's prone to understatement."
I nodded mutely. When he wasn't in his working persona of Big Crunch, the troll was remarkably accurate in his reports and observations.
"Whatever," Aahz waved. "Like I say, you seem to have survived pretty well."
I managed a weak smile.
"How about a Hair of the dog? A quick drink to perk you up," he suggested. "Com'on partner. My treat. We'll duck into town for a change of pace."
A moment's reflection was all it took to realize that a stroll through the town around the castle sounded good. Real good if Bunny was on the warpath.
"Okay, Aahz. You're on," I said. "But as to the hair of the dog ...
A part of me bristled at the thought of having to ease up on my drinking, but I fought it down ... along with my flash of fear at what that bristling might imply.
"Okay, Nunzio," I said. "I'll do it. Thanks again. I appreciate how hard that was for you."
"Don't mention it, Boss. Glad I could help you."
He reached out and laid a hand on my shoulder in a rare display of comradeship.
"Personally, I don't think you have that much to worry about. If you've got a drinkin' problem, it's marginal at best. I mean, it's not like you've been blackin' out or anything."
Chapter Twelve:
"Let's see the instant replay on that!"
H. COSSELL
"HEY PARTNER! How's it going?"
I had been heading back toward my room with the vague thought of getting a little more sleep. The hail from Aahz, however, reduced my odds of success noticeably.
"Hi Aahz" I said, turning toward him. That put the sun in my eyes, so I stepped back slightly to find some shade.
He drew up close to me and peered at me carefully. I, in turn, tried my best to look relaxed and puzzled.
Finally he nodded to himself.
"You look okay," he declared.
"Shouldn't I?" I said, innocently.
"I heard you had quite a time last night," he explained, shooting me another sidelong glance.
"Thought I'd better look you up and survey the damage. I'll admit you seem to have weathered the storm well enough. Resilience of youth, I guess."
"Maybe the reports were exaggerated," I suggested hopefully.
"Not bloody likely," he snorted. "Chumley said he saw you and your date when you rolled back into the castle and, as you know, if anything, he's prone to understatement."
I nodded mutely. When he wasn't in his working persona of Big Crunch, the troll was remarkably accurate in his reports and observations.
"Whatever," Aahz waved. "Like I say, you seem to have survived pretty well."
I managed a weak smile.
"How about a Hair of the dog? A quick drink to perk you up," he suggested. "Com'on partner. My treat. We'll duck into town for a change of pace."
A moment's reflection was all it took to realize that a stroll through the town around the castle sounded good. Real good if Bunny was on the warpath.
"Okay, Aahz. You're on," I said. "But as to the hair of the dog ...