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

craft a television?"

"You mean could I actually build one from scratch? Well, no, but..."

"But if you had the knowledge, and the skill to apply that knowledge, and the
proper materials and tools, then you could do it, could you not?"

I shrugged. "I suppose so."

"So it is with magic," Merlin said. "To cast a spell, you merely need a
knowledge of thaumaturgy, the skill to apply that knowledge, and the proper
materials and tools. There is nothing impossible about magic. Unless, of
course,
you insist that your entire family has experienced a common delusion for which
I
was somehow responsible. I cannot convince you if you refuse to be convinced,
Thomas. I could easily fly you around the room, as well, but if you chose to
remain stubborn in your disbelief, you would maintain that I had tricked you
somehow and that it never really happened. Perhaps if I turned you into a
toadstool..."

"No need to go that far," I said hastily. "You've convinced me."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely. I think."

Merlin chuckled. "You remind me a bit of Modred," he said. "He never took
anything on faith, either. It took Arthur an army to convince him, and he
lost
his life in the process. I hope I won't need to go to such lengths on your
behalf."

"Well, it's all rather hard to take, you know," I said with classic
understatement.

"I understand,'' said Merlin sympathetically.' 'A challenge to one's beliefs
is
always difficult to deal with. And if your reaction is typical of what I can
expect, then I shall have my work cut out for me. You can see why I will need
your help."

"I still don't understand exactly what it is you want me to do," I said. "I
mean, why me! I'm no one special. I should think you'd want someone more
important, more influential... someone in authority."

"Such a person would undoubtedly find me a threat to his authority," Merlin
replied. "Important and influential individuals have their own vested
interests
at heart. No, you are the man for me, Thomas. You are the first one I saw when