"Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight 02 - The Dragon Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

Carolinus, a thin old man in a red robe, wearing a black skullcap and an equally thin, rather
dingy-looking, white beard, was standing over what looked like a basketball-sized sphere of ivory color,
which glowed with an inner light. From apertures on that sphere, some of the light was escaping to make
the flecks on the ceiling. Carolinus was swearing at it in the unknown tongue Jim had heard as he came in.

тАЬEr-тАЬ said Jim, hesitantly.

Carolinus stopped cursing-it could be nothing but cursing he was doing-and removed his gaze from the
globe to glare at Jim.

тАЬNot my day for drag-тАЬ he began fiercely, then broke off, adding in a hardly more friendly note, тАЬSo!
James!тАЭ

тАЬWell, yes,тАЭ said Jim, diffidently. тАЬIf IтАЩve come at a bad time-тАЬ

тАЬWhen did anybody ever come to see me at a good time?тАЭ snapped Carolinus. тАЬYouтАЩre here because
youтАЩre in trouble, arenтАЩt you? DonтАЩt deny it! ThatтАЩs the only reason anybody ever comes to see me.
YouтАЩre in trouble, arenтАЩt you?тАЭ
тАЬWell, yes-тАЬ said Jim.

тАЬCan you talk without beginning every sentence with тАШwellтАЩ?тАЭ demanded Carolinus.

тАЬOf course,тАЭ said Jim. His own temper was beginning to shorten a little bit. Carolinus sometimes had that
effect on people; even normally easygoing characters like Jim.

тАЬThen pray do so,тАЭ said Carolinus. тАЬCanтАЩt you see IтАЩve got difficulties of my own?тАЭ

тАЬI rather figured you had,тАЭ said Jim, тАЬfrom the way you were talking; but I donтАЩt really know what it is
thatтАЩs bothering you.тАЭ

тАЬYou donтАЩt?тАЭ retorted Carolinus. тАЬI should think any fool could see-even a Master of Arts.тАЭ The last
word came out with a definitely sarcastic edge. Jim had been incautious enough early in their
acquaintance to mention to Carolinus that he had gotten a degree as Master of Arts in Medieval Studies
at a midwestern university. It had only been later that Jim had discovered that in this world, and
particularly in the exclusive province of magicians, the term Master of Arts indicated a great deal more
prestige and accomplishment than the academic equivalent he had picked up at Michigan State.

тАЬCanтАЩt you see my orrery isnтАЩt working right?тАЭ went on Carolinus. тАЬItтАЩs showing me a view of the
heavens thatтАЩs all turned around. I can tell that by one glance; but I canтАЩt put my finger on whatтАЩs wrong.
IтАЩm sure the North Star shouldnтАЩt be there,тАЭ he pointed to a far corner of the room, тАЬbut, where should it
be?тАЭ

тАЬIn the north,тАЭ said Jim innocently.

тАЬOf course, in the-тАЬ Carolinus broke off suddenly, stared at Jim, and snorted. Bending over his ivory
globe, he rotated it roughly a quarter turn.

The lights on the ceiling flickered to a new position. Carolinus looked up at them and sighed happily.