Into the Abyss полностью

What Tom saw was a rather dirty looking youth with spikey blonde hair stuffed under a turban wearing dirty yellow silk pantaloons and a vest. As the youth took in Tom’s towering form, his eyes widened and his mouth formed a round “o” as he said simply, “Oooh shit.”

Tom thought maybe the kid had finally shut up for good, when he managed to croak, “Did I say shithead?” Tom almost laughed at this, the expression on the young man’s face was decidedly comic, and almost desperate. The guy licked his lips, apparently trying to think.

Deciding to play this for what it was worth, since he found that he enjoyed letting the wind out of these damned wizards, he said softly, in almost a ‘Dirty Harry’ style voice, “Gastropé is it?”

“Uh, yeah,” at this point the kid was literally quaking in his boots, Tom noted with amusement that the front of his pants were wet. The wizard couldn’t seem to think of anything to say. Finally he managed, “Uh, you know, I’m really sorry. I really didn’t mean to be so rude... you know... the exuberance of youth and all... heh, heh,” Tom was enjoying this but he could see that the thrill would be over soon and it would quickly just get pathetic. He started slowly towards the wizard.

“By the way,” he gave Tom a sickly smile, “I am warded, you can’t get through.” Tom simply kept going forward “I don’t think,” he added, as Tom continued to advance.

“Hey, let’s call it even. My... associates torched your... master’s party, you shredded my associates! Fair is fair, right?” The young wizard was really looking green now, apparently on the verge of a nervous breakdown, or severe nausea or both.

“You know,” the young man almost cried, “these wards would be a real pain to try to break. I won’t bother you if you don’t obliterate me.” Tom didn’t say anything, he simply stopped within arm’s reach of the kid. Tom didn’t, of course want to hurt him, simply make him leave. He reached out and picked the young man up so that they were at eye level. Tom opened his mouth to say something, but had to think, so he just ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to decide what would work best. At this point, the guy broke down and cried, tears started rolling out of his eyes and down his dirty cheeks. Tom’s nose also detected a certain odor that he recognized immediately. He’d heard of people shitting their pants, but never actually seen it.

Suddenly he was tired of the whole thing. It had been cruel of him to frighten this guy so, even if he was an ambusher. Wanting to end it, he just brought the fellow close to his face, and dropping his demonic voice and letting his weariness show, he simply said “Get the fuck outta here.” He then tossed the little wizard a ways off, but gently, so as not to break any bones.

Tom turned back towards the wagons, to see if anyone was left alive. He noted that Lenamare’s friend had vanished, in fact the only person he saw moving was the girl who had been by the older woman. He walked down to the front wagon to see if she was O.K. As he got close, she turned and saw him, and started looking around wildly. Tom sighed, hoping he wouldn’t have to put up with an hysterical woman. She reached down and grabbed something, and just as he got within about a foot of the wagon, she spun around. She stuck her fist practically in his face.

“Halt... Halt, d.d.demon,” she stuttered; she seemed to be shaking. “I... I have thy ring and I command thee to obey me!” Tom was weary from fighting and really didn’t really feel like dealing with this. “Thou art mine... Tomasedwardperkinje! Thou must obey my will. The power of the Covenant of the Ring binds thee to my will demon!”

Enough again, thought Tom. Apparently, she too thinks this ring has some compulsion on me. Time to disillusion her. He reached out and grabbed her hand. Trying not to hurt her with his strength and sharp claws, he gently pried her fist open and removed the ring from her finger. It was a little tricky, he really wasn’t used to using his new fingers for such delicate work, but he got it off without too much pain. In order that she get the point, he held it before her face, on which there was an expression of shock. He then brought his finger and thumb together, and flattened the ring like it was made out of Styrofoam.

What he had not expected was for her to faint. Girls just didn’t do that sort of thing anymore, not where he came from. Of course, he reminded himself, demons didn’t pry rings off their fingers, either. Not knowing what else to do, he carefully lifted her off the wagon and laid her down on the ground. He then stepped back and looked down at her, trying to decide what to do next.

“You didn’t kill her, did you?” asked a soft voice that seemed to becoming from under the wagon.