"Diana Wynne Jones - Derkholm 1 - Dark Lord of Derkholm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jones Diana Wynne)

wizards, out of the general dejection. тАЬWho is it to be? Not me. I did
it last year.тАЭ
Querida gave her sour little smile, folded her hands, and sat
back. тАЬI have no idea,тАЭ she said blandly. тАЬI have no more idea who is
to be Dark Lord than I have about how to stop the tours. I propose
that we consult the Oracles.тАЭ
There was a long, thoughtful silence. Relieved shiftings began
around the table as even the slowest of the people there realized
that Querida was, after all, trying to find a way out. At last the
high priest said dubiously, тАЬMadam Chancellor, I understood that
the Oracles were set up for Mr. Chesney by wizards of the
UniversityтАФтАЭ
тАЬAnd by a former high priest, who asked the gods to speak
through the Oracles,тАЭ Querida agreed. тАЬIs that any reason why they
shouldnтАЩt work, Reverend Umru?тАЭ
тАЬWell,тАЭ said the high priest. тАЬEr. MightnтАЩt the Oracles, in that
case, beтАж wellтАж biased?тАЭ
тАЬProbably,тАЭ said Querida. тАЬFor that reason, I propose to ask both
the White Oracle and the Black Oracle. They will say two different
things, and we will do them both.тАЭ
тАЬEr,тАЭ said High Priest Umru. тАЬTwo Dark Lords?тАЭ
тАЬIf necessary,тАЭ said Querida. тАЬAnything it takes.тАЭ She pushed
back her chair and stood up. Because she was so small, this kept
her head at exactly the same height. Her small, lizardlike chin
jutted as she looked around the table. тАЬWe canтАЩt all go to the
Oracles,тАЭ she said, тАЬand some of you look far too tired. I shall take a
representative body. King Luther, I think, and Barnabas, you come.
And you, High Priest UmruтАФтАЭ
Umru stood up and bowed, with his hands clasped across his
large belly. тАЬMadam Chancellor, I would hate to be selected on false
pretenses. I am probably one of the few people here who does not
object to the Pilgrim Parties. My temple has prospered exceedingly
out of them over the years.тАЭ
тАЬI know,тАЭ said Querida. тАЬYou people keep taking me for a fool. I
want you as a representative of the other point of view, of course.
And IтАЩll take you, too, for the same reason.тАЭ Her hand darted out
like a snakeтАЩs tongue to point at the delegate from the Thieves
Guild.
He was a young man, thin and fair and clever-looking. He was
extremely surprised. тАЬMe?тАЭ he said. тАЬAre you sure?тАЭ
тАЬWhat a silly question,тАЭ Querida said. тАЬYour guild must have
made a mint from the Pilgrims, one way and another.тАЭ
A strange expression crossed the face of the thief, but he got up
without a word. His clothing was as rich as that of the high priest.
His long silk sleeves swirled as he walked gracefully around the
table. тАЬArenтАЩt the Oracles in the Distant Desert?тАЭ he asked. тАЬHow
do we go?тАЭ
тАЬBy a translocation spell I have already set up,тАЭ Querida said.
тАЬCome over here, the four of you.тАЭ She led the way to the empty
part of the room, where one of the large flagstones in the floor could