万本电子书0元读

万本电子书0元读

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Martin J Dougherty
¥81.67
Here lies entombed the renowned King Arthur in the island of Avalon. – Inscription found at Glastonbury in the late 12th century King Arthur most probably never existed and if he did we know precious little about him, and yet he is one of the most famous Britons, while Excalibur and Camelot are perhaps the world’s best known sword and castle, and Hollywood doesn’t tire of returning to the world of Arthurian romance – another major movie is to be released in 2016. So, what’s the truth behind King Arthur? How did the legends take hold? And why have they endured for so long? Long before the Marvel Universe there was the universe of Arthurian romance and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table examines the fact and the fiction behind Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Guinevere, Galahad, among others, as well as the quest for the Holy Grail. Beginning in the 12th century, the book explores what factual basis there is for the tales and how the characters, stories and motifs developed through histories, epic poems and prose tellings. The book also charts the revived interest in Arthurian romance in the 19th century and considers how the tales still hold the popular imagination today. Illustrated with more than 180 colour and black-and-white artworks and photographs and maps, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is an expertly written account of where literature, mythology and history meet.
Tin Soldier and Other Plays for Children
Tin Soldier and Other Plays for Children
Noel Greig, David Johnston, Hans Christian Andersen
¥40.79
A collection of three enchanting plays adapted from popular fairy tales and suitable for family audiences:?Tin Soldier (adapted from The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen), A Tasty Tale (Hansel and Gretel), Hood in the Wood (Little Red Riding Hood). Acclaimed playwright Noel Greig, has recreated these well-known tales for the stage with wit and imagination. All three plays have been performed throughout the UK by Tangere Arts, winning a? Time Out Critics' Choice Award . Teachers, youth theatres and amateur groups working with young performers will use this collection time and again for productions, drama classes and workshops - whether for one performer or many. Suitable for children aged 7+ The simple form and language of the plays belie their theatrical and psychological sophistication. Tin Soldier ' a powerful poetic drama, an epic fable for our times.' **** ?Independent A Tasty Tale (Hansel and Gretel) ' Delicious moments... fashioned into a rhyming feast.' ****?Time Out Hood in the Wood (Little Red Riding Hood) ' a first-rate piece of storytelling that will make children squeal with terrified delight and parents shiver with recognition. ' **** ?Guardian
Chameleon: The Awakening
Chameleon: The Awakening
Maggie Lynch
¥32.62
Book 1 of the Forest People Series – The Awakening Camryn Painter is a 16-year-old freak of nature. Or possibly the savior of a civilization that isn’t supposed to exist. She’s a human chameleon… one who transforms into the image of whoever sees. Escaping from a medical research facility, Camryn discovers a magical forest world. Not that she’s welcome. Her new home is filled with faeries and beasts set on destroying her. Striking a tribal alliance between what she once believed were mythical beings is her only chance of survival… if she can just control her power and figure out who to trust.
Chameleon: The Choosing
Chameleon: The Choosing
Maggie Lynch
¥32.62
Book 2 of the Forest People Series – The Choosing Camryn Painter’s powers come at a steep price. It’s one thing to master her chameleon abilities in the ancient forest world she now calls home, but another to use her abilities wisely. With the life or death of an entire civilization in her hands, Camryn must bond with a thunder dragon and join a battle she has little chance of winning… unless she can face down her own inner demons without destroying those she loves.
Illuminátus
Illuminátus
Paul Hut
¥8.34
Цветные вазочки разных форм, ажурные конфетницы, эффектные корзинки и практичные шкатулки – все это сможет связать и начинающая, и опытная мастерица! ? Вазочка из разноцветных вязаных листьев ? Ажурная корзинка в форме кувшинки ? Ваза в виде античной амфоры ? Конфетницы в форме бабочки и в технике фриформ и др. Понятные пошаговые инструкции, схемы и советы сделают процесс вязания приятным и увлекательным.Cvetnye vazochki raznyh form, azhurnye konfetnicy, jeffektnye korzinki i praktichnye shkatulki – vse jeto smozhet svjazat' i nachinajushhaja, i opytnaja masterica! ? Vazochka iz raznocvetnyh vjazanyh list'ev ? Azhurnaja korzinka v forme kuvshinki ? Vaza v vide antichnoj amfory ? Konfetnicy v forme babochki i v tehnike friform i dr. Ponjatnye poshagovye instrukcii, shemy i sovety sdelajut process vjazanija prijatnym i uvlekatel'nym.
Kvantumvilág
Kvantumvilág
Paul Hut
¥8.34
Торты с сюрпризом сделают ваш праздник незабываемым! Их ароматная середина подарит в разрезе цветы из творожного теста, радужное сердце с цедрой лайма, милых шоколадных кошек, ежевичное омбре и даже признание в любви! Торты просты в приготовлении. Эффектные приемы работы с различными видами теста, наполнителями из цедры, орехов, кусочков желе и шоколадных капель, начинками и специальными трафаретами превращают обычный рецепт в кулинарный шедевр.Torty s sjurprizom sdelajut vash prazdnik nezabyvaemym! Ih aromatnaja seredina podarit v razreze cvety iz tvorozhnogo testa, raduzhnoe serdce s cedroj lajma, milyh shokoladnyh koshek, ezhevichnoe ombre i dazhe priznanie v ljubvi! Torty prosty v prigotovlenii. Jeffektnye priemy raboty s razlichnymi vidami testa, napolniteljami iz cedry, orehov, kusochkov zhele i shokoladnyh kapel', nachinkami i special'nymi trafaretami prevrashhajut obychnyj recept v kulinarnyj shedevr.
Mózes egy, huszonkett?
Mózes egy, huszonkett?
Szabó Magda
¥71.69
F?szerepl?nk Kópé, egy erdei manó, aki kirándulók fogságábae sik, majd az erd?b?l egy f?városi lakótelepre kerül. A manó megsz?kik a rabságból, és meghúzódik egy limlommal zsúfolter kélyen. Nem esik kétségbe, hanem kényelmes kuckót alakít ki a kacatok k?z?tt. Kópé az épület el?tt magasodó akácfán k?zlekedik az erkélyek k?z?tt. ?gy talál egy barátot, Dórit, aki egyedül él az anyukájával, és soha nem járt erd?ben. A manó mesélni kezd az otthonáról, az odvas t?lgyrol, a barátairól. A mesékhez Dóri rajzokat készít. A rideg lakótelepen nem ismerik egymást az emberek, és éppen Kópé kalandozása, kíváncsisága hozza ?ket ?szsze. Dóri megismerkedik Olga nénivel, akit?l kertész kedni tanul,virágokat nevel az erkélyen, másoktól cicát kap. A k?nyvben az izgalmas kalandokat, mint például amikor Kópét majdnem elüti egy autó, vagy amikor lepottyan egyik erkélyrol a másikra, mulatságos részek gazdagítják. Az erdei él?világ valóságh? bemutatása keveredik a fantáziavilágbeli lények, tündérek és manók jellemzésével. Megtudhatjuk például, milyen is egy manó esküv?! Ajánlott korosztály: 5 és 10 év k?z?tt.
Apropria??o social da ciência e da tecnologia: contribui??es para uma agenda
Apropria??o social da ciência e da tecnologia: contribui??es para uma agenda
Maria Cristina Piumbato Innocentini Hayashi
¥57.14
Minden, ami 6. Minden, ami megforgatja az észkerekeidet, minden, ami el?csalogat6ja a benned szunnyadó b?lcs tudást. 666 kvízkérdés, amelyek valamilyen úton-módon kapcsolódnak a 6-hoz. Hol a kérdésben, hol a válaszban lapul a 6-os szám vagy a hat, mint szótag; hol pedig 6 válasz k?zül kell kiválasztani vagy éppen 6 segítséggel kell megtalálni a helyes megoldást. A kérdések mégis szerteágazóak, éppúgy megtalál6óak k?ztük a t?rténelemmel, a f?ldrajzzal, a sporttal, a képz?m?vészettel, a zenével és a filmekkel, mint a bulvárral vagy éppenséggel a Fenevaddal kapcsolatosak is. Olvasd magányosan vagy játszd társaságban, most megmutat6od, hogy milyen m?velt vagy!
?jra veled, Sydneyben
?jra veled, Sydneyben
Fejős Éva
¥77.50
K?zben éltem is.Mégis az álmaim t?ntek valóságosabbnak.Néha szerettem.Mégis mindig csalódtam magamban.Mindig harcoltam.Mégsem tudtam legy?zni ?nmagam.Egy nap mindent elveszítettem.Mégis volt mit elvesztenem másnap.
Bosszú
Bosszú
Jackie Collins
¥80.36
A horoszkóp, az univerzum k?re, életünk kerete adott. Születésünk pillanatában megérkezünk a magunk választotta pontjára, valamilyen céllal, megoldandó feladattal. Ez a sorsunk, a karmánk, ezt kell megcselekednünk. A j?v?nk kulcsa, a megoldás abban rejlik, hogy felismerjük-e a karmánk szabta feladatot, és hogy azt hogyan teljesítjük.Az asztrológia nem jóslás, hanem a sorsfeladatunk tudatosításáról és elfogadásáról szól.Ez az asztrológiai kézik?nyv a lehet? legegyszer?bb alapokon nyugszik: elegend? ismerni a Szaturnusz, a Jupiter, valamint a Nap jegy és az uralkodó bolygójának elhelyezkedését a horoszkópban jegyek és házak szerint.A k?nyv els?sorban azoknak szól, akik alapvet? asztrológiai ismeretekkel rendelkeznek, és szeretnének k?nnyen eligazodni, esetleg másoknak is tanácsot adni, hogy miként ismerhetik fel a nekik rendelt utat.
Ketten: A Szent Johanna gimi
Ketten: A Szent Johanna gimi
Leiner Laura
¥65.40
Néha egyetlen pillanatban, egyetlen színben, egyetlen mondatban benne van a k?rül?ttünk zajló élet, minden ellentmondásosságával és szépségével együtt. ?rzéseket, gondolatokat, színeket ragad meg r?vid verseiben Garay Zsuzsanna, amit Rápolthy Ingrid illusztrációi tesznek még érzékletesebbeké. Néha egyetlen pillanatban, egyetlen színben, egyetlen mondatban benne van a k?rül?ttünk zajló élet, minden ellentmondásosságával és szépségével együtt. ?rzéseket, gondolatokat, színeket ragad meg r?vid verseiben Garay Zsuzsanna, amit Rápolthy Ingrid illusztrációi tesznek még érzékletesebbeké.
14
14
Peter Clines
¥51.58
BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW is one of the few books for beginners in reading that may be classed as literature. Written in words of mostly one syllable, it has a story to tell, which is related in so attractive a manner as to immediately win the favor of young children. It teaches English and English literature to the child in the natural way: through a love for the reading matter. It is the character of story that will, in the not distant future, replace the ordinary primer or reader with detached sentences, and which seldom possesses any relation to literature.The ultimate objects of any story can only be effected through the love for a story. The prominent point in this story is development of good character, which may well be regarded as the highest purpose of education. The transformation from bad to good traits in the dog and cat cannot but have a desirable effect on every child that reads the story. Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew become dissatisfied with their home and their surroundings, and ungrateful toward their benefactress. As the story tells, "They did not find good in any thing." But after running away and suffering hunger, neglect, and bad treatment, their characters begin to change. They naturally come to reflect their mistress's goodness. They learn the value of companionship and friendship, and the appreciation of a home. However, the ethical thoughts in the story are presented without a moral. The child really lives the scenes described. He has the emotions of the characters and feels their convictions. And this determines the worth of a story as an agent in character development.The narrative furnishes, further, the proper kind of exercise for the imagination. It affords abundant opportunity for the play of the dramatic instinct in the child, and effects a happy union of the "home world" and the "school world." The illustrations, drawn by Miss Hodge, have been planned and executed with considerable care.
Mrs. Jeffries és a gyilkos bál
Mrs. Jeffries és a gyilkos bál
Emily Brightwell
¥52.16
A mérf?ldk?nek számító Sons of Anarchy - Kemény motorosok cím? televíziós sorozat negyedik évadja után játszódó t?rténetét Kurt Sutter, a széria vezet? producere találta ki. A klubtagság fele éppenhogy csak kiszabadult a Stockton állami b?rt?nb?l, de a Galindo drogkartell máris a nyakukban liheg, így nem unatkoznak a motorosok. Jax Teller, a SAMCRO aleln?ke mégis kénytelen egy másik problémával foglalkozni, amikor megtudja, hogy ír féltestvére, Trinity már hónapok óta az Egyesült ?llamokban tartózkodik - és az orosz Bratva-gengszterekkel lóg. Most azonban elt?nt, és Jax biztos abban, hogy ehhez az életét fenyeget? maffiaháborúnak van k?ze. Jax, Chibs és Opie társaságában Nevadába utazik, hogy megkeresse, és hazavigye. Trinity ugyan félig ír, félig viszont Teller, és ahol a Tellerek megjelennek, ott k? k?v?n nem marad. ?A Maffiózók óta nem uralta így a tévéképerny?t egy csapat izzadt, er?szakos vadállat...” - Rolling Stone. ?Els? osztályú... A mai napig az egyik legjobb tévésorozat.” - Newsday. ?Az egyik legjobb dráma a tévében.” - Time. ??t csillagból négy... A Sons csúcsra járatja a drámát.” - New York Daily News.?
?sszeomlás: A Zárt ajtók m?g?tt szerz?jének legújabb bestsellere (Minden kis apr
?sszeomlás: A Zárt ajtók m?g?tt szerz?jének legújabb bestsellere (Minden kis apr
B. A. Paris
¥119.27
A hatalmas sikert aratott Marokkói szerelem szerz?jének új k?nyve Yasmine magyar származású édesanyjával, Lillával, és muzulmán édesapjával, Abd ar-Rashid Gibrannal él az Egyesült Arab Emírségekben. A fiatal lány minden vágya, hogy megismerhesse gy?kereit, és anyja szül?hazájában tanulhasson. Apja nem támogatja a lány külf?ldi útját, de felesége unszolására végül, szigorú feltételeket szabva, elengedi ?t. Yasmine az egyetemen szoros barátságot k?t Larával. A lány bátyjával viszont k?lcs?n?s ellenszenv alakul ki, de végül kiderül számukra, hogy milyen keskeny a határ a gy?l?let és a szenvedélyes szerelem k?z?tt. Lehet-e esélyük a fiataloknak a hith? muzulmán apa támogatása nélkül? Kiállhatja-e szerelmük az id? és megannyi akadály próbáját? Dee Dumas a nagy siker? Marokkói szerelem cím? k?tete után ezúttal a mesés Emírségekbe varázsolja olvasóit, ahol kiderül, hogy mire képes egy szerelmes szív, hogy beteljesítse legh?bb vágyait.
Székely és más finomságok kerek pocakoknak
Székely és más finomságok kerek pocakoknak
Asztalos Ágnes, Rudolf Elisabeth
¥28.86
Боли в руках, ногах, коленях периодически испытывают многие, а с возрастом болевые ощущения усиливаются. В этой книге представлена подробная информация о заболеваниях, которые становятся причиной неприятных симптомов. Вы вновь ощутите радость от движения без боли! ? Клинические симптомы, диагностика и лечение заболеваний: артрит, остеоартроз, синдром усталых ног, подагра и др. ? Народные методы лечения: настои, отвары, компрессы, ванны ? Лечебная гимнастика, массаж и самомассаж, рефлексо- и парафинотерапия ? Рецепты здорового питания ? Очищение организма и профилактика заболеваний ? ?Скорая помощь? для снятия боли. Boli v rukah, nogah, kolenjah periodicheski ispytyvajut mnogie, a s vozrastom bolevye oshhushhenija usilivajutsja. V jetoj knige predstavlena podrobnaja informacija o zabolevanijah, kotorye stanovjatsja prichinoj neprijatnyh simptomov. Vy vnov' oshhutite radost' ot dvizhenija bez boli! ? Klinicheskie simptomy, diagnostika i lechenie zabolevanij: artrit, osteoartroz, sindrom ustalyh nog, podagra i dr. ? Narodnye metody lechenija: nastoi, otvary, kompressy, vanny ? Lechebnaja gimnastika, massazh i samomassazh, reflekso- i parafinoterapija ? Recepty zdorovogo pitanija ? Ochishhenie organizma i profilaktika zabolevanij ? ?Skoraja pomoshh'? dlja snjatija boli.
Jók és rosszak iskolája – Itt nincsenek hercegek
Jók és rosszak iskolája – Itt nincsenek hercegek
Soman Chainani
¥68.83
Автор – лауреат Пултцервсько прем Понад 60 тижнв у списку бестселерв The New York Times Входить до довгого списку рейтингу Financial Times Як звички впливают на життя Як, змнивши лише один шаблон поведнки, рзн люди змогли досягти успху: стати директором, придбати будинок, пробгти марафон В основу ц книжки лягли нтерв’ю з трьома сотнями науковцв директорв пдпримств, дослдження, проведен в десятках компанй. Проаналзувавши все це, автор зрозумв, як кожна людина може контролювати сво звички, щоб досягти успху. Дзнавшись, як створюються та руйнуються звички, ви зможете перебудувати шаблони поведнки, як соб забажате. Ви зрозумте, як змусити себе не палити, менше сти, займатися спортом, не кричати на близьких, ефективнше працювати. Avtor – laureat Pultcervs'ko prem Ponad 60 tizhnv u spisku bestselerv The New York Times Vhodit' do dovgogo spisku rejtingu Financial Times Jak zvichki vplivajut na zhittja Jak, zmnivshi lishe odin shablon povednki, rzn ljudi zmogli dosjagti usphu: stati direktorom, pridbati budinok, probgti marafon V osnovu c knizhki ljagli nterv’ju z tr'oma sotnjami naukovcv direktorv pdprimstv, dosldzhennja, proveden v desjatkah kompanj. Proanalzuvavshi vse ce, avtor zrozumv, jak kozhna ljudina mozhe kontroljuvati svo zvichki, shhob dosjagti usphu. Dznavshis', jak stvorjujut'sja ta rujnujut'sja zvichki, vi zmozhete perebuduvati shabloni povednki, jak sob zabazhate. Vi zrozumte, jak zmusiti sebe ne paliti, menshe sti, zajmatisja sportom, ne krichati na bliz'kih, efektivnshe pracjuvati.
Egy milliomos b?rében
Egy milliomos b?rében
Egri Zsanna
¥2.94
Видано 45 мовами! Донна Тартт — лауреат Пул?тцер?всько? прем?? № 1 у списку 100 видатних книжок за верс??ю The New York Times Отямившись п?сля вибуху в музе?, тринадцятир?чний Тео ще не розум??, що там, п?д уламками, залишилися його мат?р ? його дитинство. Пробираючись до виходу, повз кам?ння та т?ла, в?н п?дбира? безц?нну картину фламандського майстра, яку так любила його мати. Дивний старий, вмираючи, в?дда? йому свого персня та просить винести картину зв?дси... Тео буде кидати ?з родини в родину, ?з Нью-Йорка до Амстердама, ?з глибин в?дчаю до ейфор??. Викрадений ?Щиголь? стане його прокляттям та над??ю на порятунок... Vidano 45 movami! Donna Tartt — laureat Pul?tcer?vs'ko? prem?? № 1 u spisku 100 vidatnih knizhok za vers??ju The New York Times Otjamivshis' p?slja vibuhu v muze?, trinadcjatir?chnij Teo shhe ne rozum??, shho tam, p?d ulamkami, zalishilisja jogo mat?r ? jogo ditinstvo. Probirajuchis' do vihodu, povz kam?nnja ta t?la, v?n p?dbira? bezc?nnu kartinu flamands'kogo majstra, jaku tak ljubila jogo mati. Divnij starij, vmirajuchi, v?dda? jomu svogo persnja ta prosit' vinesti kartinu zv?dsi... Teo bude kidati ?z rodini v rodinu, ?z N'ju-Jorka do Amsterdama, ?z glibin v?dchaju do ejfor??. Vikradenij ?Shhigol'? stane jogo prokljattjam ta nad??ju na porjatunok...
Dubliners
Dubliners
James Joyce
¥28.04
We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one whole year) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and weak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, and settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no way, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again there arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which carried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by which time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So that finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness of waters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost men and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to God above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of his mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us, that we might not perish. And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within a kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea was utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, that hitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither, where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawning of the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat to our sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. And after an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, being the port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and that gave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long, till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land. But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in their hands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries of fierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made. Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising with ourselves, what we should do. During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with about eight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff of a yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship, without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of our number, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth a little scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, and shining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft and flexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll were written in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin of the school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; and provide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except you have further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water or victuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs, write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth to mercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, not spread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This being delivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us to receive our answer. F. BACON About Author: Francis Bacon, 1561 – 1626), was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, essayist, and author. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. After his death, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific method during the scientific revolution.Bacon has been called the father of empiricism. His works established and popularised inductive methodologies for scientific inquiry, often called the Baconian method, or simply the scientific method. His demand for a planned procedure of investigating all things natural marked a new turn in the rhetorical and theoretical framework for science, much of which still surrounds conceptions of proper methodology today.Bacon was knighted in 1603, and created Baron Verulam in 1618 and Viscount St. Alban in 1621; as he died without heirs, both peerages became extinct upon his death. He famously died of pneumonia, contracted while studying the effects of freezing on the preservation of meat. The succession of James I brought Bacon into greater favour. He was knighted in 1603. In another shrewd move, Bacon wrote his Apologies in defence of his proceedings in the case of Essex, as Essex had favoured James to succeed to the throne. The following year, during the course of the uneventful first parliament session, Bacon married Alice Barnham. In June 1607 he was at last rewarded with the office of solicitor general. The following year, he began working as the Clerkship of the Star Chamber. Despite a generous income, old debts still co
Emile
Emile
Jean Jacques Rousseau
¥28.04
Underground* *The author of the diary and the diary itself are, of course, imaginary. Nevertheless it is clear that such persons as the writer of these notes not only may, but positively must, exist in our society, when we consider the circumstances in the midst of which our society is formed. I have tried to expose to the view of the public more distinctly than is commonly done, one of the characters of the recent past. He is one of the representatives of a generation still living. In this fragment, entitled "Underground," this person introduces himself and his views, and, as it were, tries to explain the causes owing to which he has made his appearance and was bound to make his appearance in our midst. In the second fragment there are added the actual notes of this person concerning certain events in his life.--AUTHOR'S NOTE. II am a sick man.... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. I believe my liver is diseased. However, I know nothing at all about my disease, and do not know for certain what ails me. I don't consult a doctor for it, and never have, though I have a respect for medicine and doctors. Besides, I am extremely superstitious, sufficiently so to respect medicine, anyway (I am well-educated enough not to be superstitious, but I am superstitious). No, I refuse to consult a doctor from spite. That you probably will not understand. Well, I understand it, though. Of course, I can't explain who it is precisely that I am mortifying in this case by my spite: I am perfectly well aware that I cannot "pay out" the doctors by not consulting them; I know better than anyone that by all this I am only injuring myself and no one else. But still, if I don't consult a doctor it is from spite. My liver is bad, well--let it get worse! I have been going on like that for a long time--twenty years. Now I am forty. I used to be in the government service, but am no longer. I was a spiteful official. I was rude and took pleasure in being so. I did not take bribes, you see, so I was bound to find a recompense in that, at least. (A poor jest, but I will not scratch it out. I wrote it thinking it would sound very witty; but now that I have seen myself that I only wanted to show off in a despicable way, I will not scratch it out on purpose!) When petitioners used to come for information to the table at which I sat, I used to grind my teeth at them, and felt intense enjoyment when I succeeded in making anybody unhappy. I almost did succeed. For the most part they were all timid people--of course, they were petitioners. But of the uppish ones there was one officer in particular I could not endure. He simply would not be humble, and clanked his sword in a disgusting way. I carried on a feud with him for eighteen months over that sword. At last I got the better of him. He left off clanking it. That happened in my youth, though. But do you know, gentlemen, what was the chief point about my spite? Why, the whole point, the real sting of it lay in the fact that continually, even in the moment of the acutest spleen, I was inwardly conscious with shame that I was not only not a spiteful but not even an embittered man, that I was simply scaring sparrows at random and amusing myself by it. I might foam at the mouth, but bring me a doll to play with, give me a cup of tea with sugar in it, and maybe I should be appeased. I might even be genuinely touched, though probably I should grind my teeth at myself afterwards and lie awake at night with shame for months after. That was my way.
Evolution of Love
Evolution of Love
Emil Lucka
¥18.74
In these times of ours, though concerning the exact year there is no need to be precise, a boat of dirty and disreputable appearance, with two figures in it, floated on the Thames, between Southwark bridge which is of iron, and London Bridge which is of stone, as an autumn evening was closing in. The figures in this boat were those of a strong man with ragged grizzled hair and a sun-browned face, and a dark girl of nineteen or twenty, sufficiently like him to be recognizable as his daughter. The girl rowed, pulling a pair of sculls very easily; the man, with the rudder-lines slack in his hands, and his hands loose in his waistband, kept an eager look out. He had no net, hook, or line, and he could not be a fisherman; his boat had no cushion for a sitter, no paint, no inscription, no appliance beyond a rusty boathook and a coil of rope, and he could not be a waterman; his boat was too crazy and too small to take in cargo for delivery, and he could not be a lighterman or river-carrier; there was no clue to what he looked for, but he looked for something, with a most intent and searching gaze. The tide, which had turned an hour before, was running down, and his eyes watched every little race and eddy in its broad sweep, as the boat made slight head-way against it, or drove stern foremost before it, according as he directed his daughter by a movement of his head. She watched his face as earnestly as he watched the river. But, in the intensity of her look there was a touch of dread or horror. Allied to the bottom of the river rather than the surface, by reason of the slime and ooze with which it was covered, and its sodden state, this boat and the two figures in it obviously were doing something that they often did, and were seeking what they often sought. Half savage as the man showed, with no covering on his matted head, with his brown arms bare to between the elbow and the shoulder, with the loose knot of a looser kerchief lying low on his bare breast in a wilderness of beard and whisker, with such dress as he wore seeming to be made out of the mud that begrimed his boat, still there was a business-like usage in his steady gaze. So with every lithe action of the girl, with every turn of her wrist, perhaps most of all with her look of dread or horror; they were things of usage. 'Keep her out, Lizzie. Tide runs strong here. Keep her well afore the sweep of it.' Trusting to the girl's skill and making no use of the rudder, he eyed the coming tide with an absorbed attention. So the girl eyed him. But, it happened now, that a slant of light from the setting sun glanced into the bottom of the boat, and, touching a rotten stain there which bore some resemblance to the outline of a muffled human form, coloured it as though with diluted blood. This caught the girl's eye, and she shivered. 'What ails you?' said the man, immediately aware of it, though so intent on the advancing waters; 'I see nothing afloat.' The red light was gone, the shudder was gone, and his gaze, which had come back to the boat for a moment, travelled away again. Wheresoever the strong tide met with an impediment, his gaze paused for an instant. At every mooring-chain and rope, at every stationery boat or barge that split the current into a broad-arrowhead, at the offsets from the piers of Southwark Bridge, at the paddles of the river steamboats as they beat the filthy water, at the floating logs of timber lashed together lying off certain wharves, his shining eyes darted a hungry look. After a darkening hour or so, suddenly the rudder-lines tightened in his hold, and he steered hard towards the Surrey shore. Always watching his face, the girl instantly answered to the action in her sculling; presently the boat swung round, quivered as from a sudden jerk, and the upper half of the man was stretched out over the stern.
Vulnerable: A Prequel to the Red Dog Conspiracy
Vulnerable: A Prequel to the Red Dog Conspiracy
Patricia Loofbourrow
¥7.66
In the far future domed city of Dickens, no mercy is given. So when Eleanora Bryce finds her husband dead at his own hand, she finds herself trapped between the truth and his mountain of debt. Eleanora faces debtor’s prison — or worse — unless she can find a way out of Dickens. But can she return to the city which ruined her husband and murdered her son? A 6,000 word short story.