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

I
awoke, and I believe it was an omen. Fate brought us together. You and I
shall
bring magic back into the world."

"But how!" I asked. "What do you propose to do, start some sort of school
where
people can take classes in Elementary Sorcery? Practice levitation and turn
lead
into gold for their homework assignments?"

"An excellent idea," Merlin said. "A school would enable apprentices to come
to
me, rather than my needing to seek them out. You see, Thomas, you are already
proving your worth. Yes, a school, like your universities, where I can train
sorcerers who can then go out and train others. I believe that is just the
way
to do it."

"I was only joking," I said.

"Well, it's an excellent idea, just the same. We shall start a school. We
must
begin at once."

"Hold on," I said. "It isn't quite that simple, you know."

"Why not?"

"Well, for one thing, you would need a place to do it. I don't mean to sound
inhospitable, but after all, this is my home. I can't have you bringing
strangers in here to practice spells in my own living room."

"Quite so, quite so," said Merlin, nodding. "That would be an altogether
unreasonable imposition and I would never think of asking it. I had thought
we
might obtain a building of some sort, something suitable with living quarters
for the students, and for the serving staff, as well as kitchens, an
alchemical
laboratory, and perhaps a meeting hall..."

I laughed. "What about a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi? You have no idea what
you're asking. Assuming you'd be lucky enough to find such a building, where
would you find the money to pay for it? It would cost a fortune merely to pay
for its upkeep, and you would still need to purchase supplies, and budget for
the necessary funds to publicize the school, and pass various health and
zoning
inspections for the kitchens and the dormitories, and obtain certification
and... oh, good Lord, I can't even believe I'm seriously having this
conversation!"