"Craig Shaw Gardner - Wuntvor 01 - A Difficulty With Dwarves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner Craig Shaw)

тАШTerrible!тАЩ The old wizard Snorphosio called as he approached us, carefully stepping around or over the
prone wizards in his path. тАШInstead of curing EbenezumтАЩs malady, he has given it to all of them. I knew
this would happen!тАЩ He coughed nervously into a thin, almost birdlike hand.

тАШThey took too direct an approach! I knew it! Something of this magnitude needs to be studied for
weeks at least. Sometimes even years!тАЩ Snorphosio mopped his brow with a gray scholarтАЩs sleeve.
тАШEveryone knows that sorcery is an elusive art. WellтАЩ - he paused and took a breath - тАШperhaps everyone
doesnтАЩt know that, but at least wizards do ... well, good wizards know the truth of what IтАЩm saying.тАЩ He
glanced distractedly at the roomful of sneezing sorcerers. тАШWell, good wizards should know the truth I
speak. But then again, what is the nature of truth? And how do wizards approach that nature? For that
matter, how does nature approach wizards? In fact, is there truth in natural wizardry, or is there rather -тАШ

тАШIndeed,тАЩ I replied in an attempt to cut short the learned sorcererтАЩs musings. At least Snorphosio seemed
to be calming down. Before, he had been so upset that he had actually managed to talk in short, coherent
sentences. Now, however, the never-ending theorist deep in his soul seemed to be reasserting itself.

тАШYes, you are quite right,тАЩ Snorphosio replied to my surprise. тАШThis is no time for theory. It is time for
action. I say there!тАЩ His voice rose above the collective sneezing. тАШFellow wizards! Can any of you catch
your breath long enough to tell me what happened in the other room?тАЩ

Half a dozen wizards tried to speak at once. None of them uttered more than a phrase before they
rejoined their sneezing comrades.

тАШThis is even more serious than I imagined!тАЩ Snorphosio exclaimed. тАШBut then, who is to say how truly
serious a situation can be? And who can put a limit on imagination? And exactly how serious is
imagination, anyway? Or how imaginary is the limit of seriousness -тАШ

The theoretical wizardтАЩs body shook with an effort of will. тАШNo! I have no time for these musings. It is
time to act!тАЩ He paused. тАШBut, is not musing in itself an action? And what if you act on musing? Is that not
-тАШ

Snorphosio shook himself again, clenching his fists. тАШAction!тАЩ He looked again at the mass of ailing
wizards. тАШColleagues!тАЩ he called. тАШPlease, hold your breath for but a moment. I will perform a short magic
eradication spell, after which we may talk in peace.тАЩ

The noise level dropped considerably as the sorcerers attempted to comply. Snorphosio got halfway
through his spell before he, too, began to sneeze.

тАШHold!тАЩ came a clear voice from the room in which the wizards had conferred. тАШGo no further!тАЩ

Norei and I turned to look across the disabled wizards, at the meeting room where this had all begun.

One more wizard strode boldly from the room, also seemingly unaffected by the magical malady. The
large mass of sneezing wizards filling the hallway about us had raised a great deal of dust. It was difficult
to see clearly. Still, there was something familiar about the way the man carried himself, his long, white
beard, and dark blue robes.

The mage paused at the edge of the sneezing mass of sorcerers. тАШIndeed,тАЩ he intoned.
With that word, I knew. It was my master, the greatest wizard in all the Western Kingdoms, Ebenezum!