[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“Certain? Of course I’m certain,” Faldergash replied, harrumphing.Clearly his hearing hadn’t suffered from the shock.This time.“What do you take me for, a dwarf?”Danner smiled.“No, but if reducing the cayenne hasn’t had any effect, maybe it’s something else.”“Shows how much you know about science, boy,” Faldergash said haughtily.“You stick to picking locks and pockets, and leave the science to the professionals.” He thumped his fist into his chest, demonstrating in no uncertain terms that he considered himself just such a man.The effect was spoiled by the thick cloud of red powder and gray ash that billowed out from the middle-aged gnome, who’s stern expression dissolved into a fit of coughing.Danner replied the only intelligent way possible.He nodded in solemn agreement, hiding a smile that still shone behind his eyes.“Need a break?” he asked.“I’ve got some sandwiches made, and you’ve been in your workshop for three hours straight.”“Huh? My, my, where does the time go?” Faldergash mused.“Sandwiches you say? Well, then, boy, feed me!”The gruff gnome stamped his boots to shake free a layer of ash and powder that had settled, then clomped off to the kitchen, still muttering about the cause of his most recent explosion.Danner smiled at the retreating back of the gnome and ran a quick eye over the walls and floor of the house.It wouldn’t be the first time that one of Fal’s experiments had created cracks that ran from floor to ceiling, and more than once he’d gouged a shallow crater into the floor with one of his machines.Thankfully, there was no obvious sign of structural damage, and Danner moved to join his friend in the kitchen.“Living with a gnome certainly does make life interesting,” he murmured to himself.Danner’s father had pushed him out the door at the ripe age of eleven, fully expecting him to make it on his own.Trained since birth as a thief and urban survivalist, Danner did well enough for a few years, but a string of cursed luck left him sick and penniless.Faldergash had taken a much younger Danner in, even though they barely knew each other, and the gnome nursed him back to health.Danner helped around the house as he recovered his strength, and eventually Faldergash offered to let him rent a room there indefinitely, although Danner suspected it was as much from friendship as the income he provided to help keep Faldergash financially afloat.The gnome largely supported his hobby of inventing by fixing odds and ends for people around the city, but he paid little attention to his own physical or financial health until something troubled him, and it was probably only through Danner’s timely arrival that the gnome was still alive and in his own house.Four years later, Danner considered it fortuitous and mutually beneficial friendship, and they’d both learned to put up with each other’s faults and habits.Mostly.As he entered the kitchen, Danner suddenly sympathized with generations of mothers.Faldergash was already sitting at his chair, munching contentedly on a sandwich that had just emptied half its contents onto the gnome’s expansive belly.His beard was already stained with residue from the recent explosion, but now it sported several glistening stains where the red ale the gnome favored had slopped out over his chin.Danner sighed and took his place across from the gnome where he hoped he’d be out of range of any stray food or drink.As Danner took a small bite from his own sandwich, he tucked the morsel into his cheek and looked at his friend.“So what exactly are you making this time, Fal?” he asked, sincerely interested.If it was anything that could potentially destroy the building, Danner wanted to know.“Ish an ishtit kucking devish,” the gnome mumbled, spewing crumbs.“Finish chewing, swallow, then answer,” Danner said patiently.Faldergash looked surprised at the admonition, but followed instructions.“It’s an instant cooking device,” he repeated, more clearly this time.“You can put food inside of it, press a button, and boom,” he said, emphasizing the word with a bang of his flattened palm on the table, “chemicals create super heat and your food’s cooked.I call it a superfire cooker.It’ll make my fortune.”Danner nodded absently, knowing full well how many of the gnome’s inventions had supposedly been able to make his fortune.In the years Danner had known Faldergash, the gnome had often been forced to borrow money from his human friend, and Danner had long ago given up hope of seeing any of the coins again.He occasionally had to steal a little extra from work whenever the gnome spent all of Danner’s rent on his myriad projects instead of more mundane concerns, like food and adequate fuel for the hearth.Danner didn’t mind the extra expense, and he’d long since given up trying to persuade his friend to take better care of himself.“Don’t patronize me, boy,” Faldergash said sharply, glaring across the table at him.“I’m serious this time.It’ll revolutionize food services all over the country.No more waiting for a half hour to get your food hot and fresh, by golly.Now you’ll ask for a nice hot steak, they’ll cut it off the beast, pop it in, and like magic, you’ll have it in no time.”“If you ever get the mixture right,” Danner said, teasing the gnome.“Thus far it seems as though you’ve only gotten the boom part down.”“Now you listen here,” Faldergash began, brandishing his half-finished sandwich at Danner.His elbow knocked the mug of ale, though, and whatever the gnome had been about to say was swallowed amidst a flurry of curses.He hastily placed his arms on the table, allowing the thick sleeves of his tunic to soak up the red liquid.The rest he mopped up with the front of his shirt.Faldergash glared at his empty mug for a moment, then shrugged and stuffed his sleeve in his mouth and began to suck the ale from the garment, ignoring the residual powders.Danner withheld a sigh and carefully refrained from rolling his eyes.“On that note, I need to get to work,” Danner said, getting up from his seat.“Work, hah!” Faldergash barked, spitting out his sleeve and thrusting a meaty finger toward Danner.“You mark my words, Danno, working with those crazies will only end you in trouble.Especially if one of them ever finds out who, or rather what, you live with
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
© 2009 Każdy czyn dokonany w gniewie jest skazany na klęskę - Ceske - Sjezdovky .cz. Design downloaded from free website templates