"Simon Hawke - Wizard 7 - The Wizard of Camelot" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hawke Simon)

before you start making any plans, I think we need to talk about this. I do
have
a full-time job, you know. I'm a police officer Or at least I was, until
yesterday. I'll need to report in as soon as possible and make some effort to
explain my absence, otherwise I'll be left with no means to provide for my
family."

"You need have no concerns for your family's welfare," Merlin said. "Never
fear,
I shall see to that. As for your job, it is of no consequence. We have far
more
important work to do. I know what must be done, you see, but I'm not certain
how
best to go about it. And that is where I need your help.''

"You need my help?" I said.

' 'Most assuredly. I spent the night watching your television, and listening
to
your radio. What marvelous devices! Highly informative, indeed. They have
shown
me that there is much to do. It seems the world once again has need of me."

"I have no idea what the world will make of you," I replied dubiously. "But
what
is it that you have in mind, exactly?"

"You know, Thomas, during my long sleep within the great oak, I was not
entirely
ignorant of events that took place in the world outside," he said. "I saw the
years roll by in dreams. And the years turned into decades, and the decades
into
centuries. Thaumaturgy, the discipline of magic, became forgotten as the
years
went by, and as mankind began to seek enlightenment in other ways. I dreamed
about the wars, the leaps of knowledge resulting in miraculous inventions,
the
growth of industry and what you call technology, humanity's astonishing
ventures
beyond the confines of this world, the promise of peace and prosperity, and
now
this... the Collapse, as you call it."

He sighed and stroked his long, gray beard. There was a troubled expression
on
his face. I merely listened, saying nothing, caught up in his spell. And it
was
a spell, which he cast merely by his presence.

I kept thinking how surreal it all seemed. There we were, sitting at the