John DeChancie - Castle 02 - Castle for Rent

VIP免费
2024-12-15 1 0 298.03KB 104 页 5.9玖币
侵权投诉
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
Castle for Rent
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (1 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:03
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (2 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (3 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (4 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (5 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (6 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
John DeChancie
AN [ e - reads ] BOOK
New York, NY
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or
mechanical, including photocopy, recording, scanning or any information storage retrieval system, without
explicit permission in writing from the Author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination
or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locals or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental.
Copyright © 1989 by John DeChancie.
First e-reads publication 2002
www.e-reads.com
ISBN 0-7592-6268-3
To Thomas F. Monteleone
The splendor falls on castle walls
And snowy summits old in story:
The long light shakes across the lakes,
And the wild cataract leaps in glory.
Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying,
Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.
— Tennyson
Other works by John DeChanice also available in e-reads editions
RED LIMIT FREEWAY
LIVING WITH ALIENS
CASTLE PERLIOUS
Table of Contents
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (7 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
One—Cellar, Near the Donjon
Two—Over the Plains of Baranthe
Three—Elsewhere
Four—35th and Madison
Five—Ice Island
Six—Long Island
Seven—Wilmerding, Pennsylvania
Eight—Castle Keep — West Wing
Nine—164 East 64th Street
Ten—Keep — Queen’s Dinning Hall
Eleven—164 East 64th Street
Twelve—Library
Thirteen—Keep
Fourteen—Keep — Lower Levels
Fifteen—164 East 64th Street
Sixteen—Keep — Near the South Tower
Seventeen—East 64th and Lexington
Eighteen—Elsewhere
Nineteen—Elsewhen
Twenty—Pennsylvania Turnpike, Near Bedford
Twenty-one—Keep — Family Residence
Twenty-two—Temple
Twenty-three—Keep — Near the Well Tower
Twenty-four—Library
Twenty-five—Pennsylvania
Twenty-six—Castle
Twenty-seven—Estate
Twenty-eight—Castle
Twenty-nine—Library
Thirty—Estate
Thirty-one—House Over the Borderline
Thirty-two—Castle
Thirty-three—Throne Room
Prologue
One
Cellar, Near the Donjon
IN A NICHE in a crypt deep within a great castle, a section of wall vanished and revealed a high-raftered, pelt-
hung room which evoked the interior of a Viking hall — but not quite. Two creatures stood in the room, facing
each other. They were not human, but approximated human form. Their faces were huge and wrinkled, their eyes
narrow slits over a blunt snout split by a mouth not unlike a hippopotamus’, save that the teeth were numerous
and sharp. They had thick, squat bodies, exorbitantly muscled, with leathery blue skin. They wore pieces of shiny
green armor that could have been plastic or fiberglass or some composite material — or perhaps sections of the
carapace of a giant insect. Both creatures wore swords and daggers in ornate scabbards. The behavior and
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (8 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
mannerisms of both creatures could generally be described as an exaggeration, perhaps even a parody, of
behavior patterns peculiar to a certain type of overaggressive male human.
The sudden materialization of the opening had interrupted a conversation — rather, a confrontation involving
bared teeth, threatening postures, and much angry grunting and gesticulating. The creature who faced the opening
stopped in mid-gesture, his six-fingered hand raised to strike the other creature. A puzzled expression formed on
his inhuman countenance. The other creature had backed off, hand darting to the curving grip of a pistol in a hip
holster.
Slowly the first creature lowered his arm, then grunted and motioned toward the opening, which lay at his
adversary’s back. The other grunted threateningly in reply, warily maintaining his orientation and taking another
step back. He wasn’t taking any chances. The first grunted again, pointing emphatically toward the suddenly
created doorway.
The second creature couldn’t resist casting a glance to the rear. He did an almost comic double take and whirled
about to face the opening. Their argument temporarily forgotten, the two approached the anomaly. The second
creature drew his weapon — a strange thing with a short barrel and a large underhanging clip. Cautiously they
peered out. There was nothing immediately outside the opening but the bare stone walls of a corridor running to
darkness at either hand. The gun-bearing creature stuck his head out and looked one way then the other. He
snorted.
Then he said: “Secret passage. Escape tunnel.”
The other grunted something in reply.
The first holstered his weapon and stepped out into the corridor. “Runs directly to Proconsul’s quarters, leads to
outside.”
“Convenient,” said the first creature as it came through the doorway. “But where did wall go?” He examined the
dark stone of corridor, still looking puzzled. “Wonder where stone comes from. Strange stuff.” He thumped a
blue fist against it.
The gun-toting creature sniffed the air, snout wriggling. “Something not right here.”
The other glanced about warily. “Strange. Very strange.”
They wandered about, sniffing high and low, probing cracks and crannies with fat, blunt fingers.
“Sorcerer’s work,” the unarmed creature pronounced, peering at multicolored glittering motes that lay deep
within the stone.
“You think?”
“What else? I saw wall disappear.”
“You are drunk.”
“If I want excrement from you, I will squeeze it out of your head!”
“And I will make you eat it — along with your words, dung-breath!”
The two squared off and snarled at each other for a spell. Gradually the tension lessened as they were again
distracted by the strange apparition.
“Sorcerer’s work, I tell you.”
“Nonsense. Escape tunnel, nothing more.”
“Look at seam here, between stone and wood. Blurry.” The creature put his hand up against the juncture and
observed that the hand became indistinct, then withdrew it as from something hot.
“Look!”
Far down the corridor, a mote of light danced in the darkness. Soon footsteps approached.
The two creatures went into defensive stances.
“Hi, there!” came a voice from down the hall.
A human approached, a short bearded man in jeans and a T-shirt. He stopped a short distance away. He held an
odd lantern: it was a long wooden handle with a huge glowing jewel affixed to the end. The jewel glowed an
eerie blue-white.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (9 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm
“Hi! Mort Kaufmann’s the name. Have you two just wandered into the castle?”
The one with the gun slowly straightened.
“What sort of creature are you?” he barked. “And what are you doing in stronghold of Proconsul?”
“The what of who?” Kaufmann laughed. “You got it wrong. I should be asking what you’re doing here — but of
course I know perfectly well what you’re doing. You were just minding your own business when all of a sudden
a wall in your —” He took a step forward and peeked into the opening. “ — living room? Yeah, a wall in your
living room suddenly went poof and a doorway pops out of nowhere. And you go through, and you wind up here,
and you’re wondering what it’s all about. Right?”
The creature thrust the pistol toward him. “I ask you question! Speak, or I will drill hole in your hairy head.”
Kaufmann backed off. “Hey, now look. I don’t want any trouble with you guys. Just being friendly, is all. I’m
just trying to help out. You know, you really shouldn’t —”
The unarmed creature rushed him. The jewel-torch clattered to the floor and Kaufmann went flying. The corridor
wall interrupted his flight with a sickening thud. The creature then picked him up like a limp rag and began to
pummel him mercilessly.
The other creature went for the torch, scooped the thing up, and examined it. At length he looked over his
shoulder and growled, “Don’t kill it! Proconsul will want to interrogate!”
Kaufmann lay still on the floor, one arm at an anatomically improbable angle.
“Two-legged, hairy creature that talks. Fantastic! Where did it come from?”
“From this place, wherever.”
“Look. It has red blood.”
“I can see that, fool!”
“Can you also now see — idiot — that there is something more to this?”
The other regarded the torch again. “Perhaps so.” It ran a sausagelike finger over the handle.
The unarmed creature pointed at Kaufmann.
“Come, we must report this. Bring creature.” When the other gave no response: “That is my order!”
The other glared back. “I urinate on your orders. You have no authority over me.”
“I have Proconsul’s authority! I am his chief of staff. As captain of stronghold guard, you are technically under
my command. Obey!”
“Slime-eating schemer! You backstabbed your way to power!”
The other smiled toothily. “I could have you shot.” His hand was a blur as it slipped behind his breastplate,
bringing forth a small pistol. He trained it on the captain. “I could shoot you right now.”
“You are coward as well.”
The chief of staff’s smile faded. Slowly he put the pistol back into its hiding place. He brought back his hand to
his side.
“Now make your move.”
It was quiet. Both creatures remained motionless for several minutes.
The captain of the guard carefully unbent and relaxed. “This is foolish. I will fetch prisoner.”
The chief of staff picked up the torch. Looking it over, he walked toward the opening. Just as he reached it he
caught sight of what the captain was about to do.
The captain’s pistol smoked and sputtered. A brief flame coughed from the end of the barrel. That was all.
Dumbfounded, the captain stood looking at the useless weapon in his hand — briefly, until a dagger suddenly
grew in his throat. He dropped the pistol, gurgled, and fell dead. Bright purple blood issued from the wound.
The chief of staff retrieved the knife and picked up the gun. He looked at one, then the other.
“Strange.”
Throwing down the gun, he grabbed the human by the hair and dragged him back through the portal.
Six (Approximately) Months (For Lack of Better Word) Later
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm (10 of 104)19-2-2006 3:49:04
摘要：

file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruiswijk/Mijn%20d...John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htmCastleforRentfile:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...ncie%20-%20Castle\%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm(1of104)19-2-20063:49:03file:///C|/Documents%20...

展开>> 收起<<
John DeChancie - Castle 02 - Castle for Rent.pdf

共104页,预览21页

还剩页未读， 继续阅读

声明：本站为文档C2C交易模式，即用户上传的文档直接被用户下载，本站只是中间服务平台，本站所有文档下载所得的收益归上传人(含作者)所有。玖贝云文库仅提供信息存储空间，仅对用户上传内容的表现方式做保护处理，对上载内容本身不做任何修改或编辑。若文档所含内容侵犯了您的版权或隐私，请立即通知玖贝云文库，我们立即给予删除！

相关推荐

更多
立即下载
分类：外语学习 价格：5.9玖币 属性：104 页 大小：298.03KB 格式：PDF 时间：2024-12-15

开通VIP享超值会员特权

  • 多端同步记录
  • 高速下载文档
  • 免费文档工具
  • 分享文档赚钱
  • 每日登录抽奖
  • 优质衍生服务

作者详情

相关内容

更多

热门标签

高考理综 人际关系 配电装置 动力学连接体 力的合成 全宋诗作者索引 公务员考试
/ 104
评分 收藏
分享
立即下载 VIP免费下载
客服
关注