JК
Sween Myth-tery of Life :: Asprin Robert
Страница: 85 из 110After all our time together, I had begun to believe that my bodyguards were all but invulnerable. It was a little unsettling to be reminded that they could be hurt physically like anyone else.
"What are you doing back?" I said. "And what happened to your arm?"
Instead of answering, he peered suspiciously past me at the arguing Djins.
"What's goin' on in there, Boss?" he demanded. "Who are those two jokers, anyway?"
I was a little surprised that he could hear and see my visitors, but then I remembered that it's only while a Djin is under contract that he or she can only be seen and heard by the holder of their bottle.
"Oh, those are just a couple friends of mine," I said. "Well ... sort of friends. I thought they were dropping by to say 'Hi,' but, as you can see, things seem to have gotten a little out of hand. The one with the beard is Kalvin, and the lady he's arguing with is his wife, Daphnie."
I thought it was a fairly straightforward explanation, but Guido recoiled as if I had struck him.
"Did you say 'his wife'?"
"That's right. Why?"
My bodyguard stepped forward to place himself between me and the arguing couple.
"Get out of here, Boss," he said quietly.
"What?"
At first I thought I had misunderstood him.
"Boss," he hissed with aggravated patience. "I'm your bodyguard. Right? Well, as your bodyguard and the one currently responsible for the well bein' of your continued health, I'm tellin' you to get out of here!"
"But ..."
Apparently Guido wasn't willing to debate the point further. Instead, he scooped me up with his good arm and carried me out the door into the corridor, where he deposited me none too gently against the wall beside the doorway.
"Now stay here," he said, shaking a massive finger in my face. "Got that? Stay here!"
I recognized the tone of his voice. It was the same as when I tried to give Gleep a simple command ... for the third or fourth time after he had been steadfastly ignoring me. I decided I would try to prove that I was smarter than my pet by actually following orders.
"Okay, Guido," I said, with a curt nod. "Here it is."
He hesitated for a moment, eyeing me as if to see if I was going to make a break for the door. Then he gave a little nod of satisfaction, turned, and strode into my room, closing the door behind him.
While I couldn't make out the exact words, I heard the arguing voices cease for a moment. Then they were raised again in angry chorus, punctuated by Guido's voice saying something. Then there was silence.
"What are you doing back?" I said. "And what happened to your arm?"
Instead of answering, he peered suspiciously past me at the arguing Djins.
"What's goin' on in there, Boss?" he demanded. "Who are those two jokers, anyway?"
I was a little surprised that he could hear and see my visitors, but then I remembered that it's only while a Djin is under contract that he or she can only be seen and heard by the holder of their bottle.
"Oh, those are just a couple friends of mine," I said. "Well ... sort of friends. I thought they were dropping by to say 'Hi,' but, as you can see, things seem to have gotten a little out of hand. The one with the beard is Kalvin, and the lady he's arguing with is his wife, Daphnie."
I thought it was a fairly straightforward explanation, but Guido recoiled as if I had struck him.
"Did you say 'his wife'?"
"That's right. Why?"
My bodyguard stepped forward to place himself between me and the arguing couple.
"Get out of here, Boss," he said quietly.
"What?"
At first I thought I had misunderstood him.
"Boss," he hissed with aggravated patience. "I'm your bodyguard. Right? Well, as your bodyguard and the one currently responsible for the well bein' of your continued health, I'm tellin' you to get out of here!"
"But ..."
Apparently Guido wasn't willing to debate the point further. Instead, he scooped me up with his good arm and carried me out the door into the corridor, where he deposited me none too gently against the wall beside the doorway.
"Now stay here," he said, shaking a massive finger in my face. "Got that? Stay here!"
I recognized the tone of his voice. It was the same as when I tried to give Gleep a simple command ... for the third or fourth time after he had been steadfastly ignoring me. I decided I would try to prove that I was smarter than my pet by actually following orders.
"Okay, Guido," I said, with a curt nod. "Here it is."
He hesitated for a moment, eyeing me as if to see if I was going to make a break for the door. Then he gave a little nod of satisfaction, turned, and strode into my room, closing the door behind him.
While I couldn't make out the exact words, I heard the arguing voices cease for a moment. Then they were raised again in angry chorus, punctuated by Guido's voice saying something. Then there was silence.