"Paul Di Filippo - The Reluctant Book" - читать интересную книгу автора (Di Filippo Paul)

temporary storage, then gave us wipes. Our elder, Dar al-Kutub,
suspects
that the one huge text we were redacting has been broken up into
smaller
bits, so that you new volumes can help work on it."
"That makes sense, I suppose."
"It would, except for one thing. Dar heard the master ordering a
factotum
to load the new hypos in sequence."
"So?"
Index Medicus began nervously to groom the greasy patch behind one ear.
"He arranged for twice as many shots as there should have been."
"More books are coming?"
"I don't think so. Every carrel is already occupied."
Canto became impatient. "So what are you saying?"
Index Medicus stopped swiping at his fur and stared intently at his
cellmate. "Everything points toward it. We're going to be double-wiped.
All of us. The master needs the half of our brains we call our own."
The concept was so grotesquely repugnant to Canto that he had a hard
time
wrapping his mind around it. Not so much for himself did he balk at the
harsh reality of human treachery, the overturning of all biblioplectic
tradition, as for the sakes of his friends, and one in particular. The
sweet essence of Vellum blotted out of existence, as if she had never
been? Such an atrocity beggared description.
"I was caught trying to escape," Index Medicus said resignedly. "I
think
the master intends to double-wipe me first as a final test."
Canto said nothing, but merely sat back on his haunches.
Eventless hours dragged by, the books nearly jumping out of their hides
at
every clink and rattle from beyond their door, until at last a solenoid
clicked in the windowless prison door.
The master filled the portal, blocking any escape. Then he was inside
with
the books and the door was shut again, lock engaging with a mean snick.
"Two of you! The factota have been diligent but uncommunicative. Well,
unfortunately I brought only the single shot of this marvelous,
utilitarian oblivion. Who'll go first? Who wants the honor of being the
leader into the future of my exaltation? Don't clamor now! What, no
eager
takers? Well, precedence goes to the volume I've owned the longest
then."
The master grabbed Index Medicus by his scruff and raised the hypo. The
pitiful book let out a single squeal and went limp.
Canto's powerful legs propelled him fully atop the master's shoulders.
Unbalanced, the human tottered forward, ramming his head into the stony
wall of the cell. The hypo dropped, but was cushioned from breakage by
Index Medicus's supine body. The librarian jerked Canto off his back,
spun