"Diana Wynne Jones - Mixed Magics" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jones Diana Wynne)

Mixed Magics

by Diana Wynne Jones

There are thousands of worlds, all different from ours. Chrestomanci's world
is the one next door to us, and the difference here is that magic is as
common as music is with us. It is full of people working magicтАФwarlocks,
witches, thaumaturges, sorcerers, fakirs, conjurers, hexers, magicians,
mages, shamans, diviners, and many moreтАФfrom the lowest Certified witch
right up to the most powerful of enchanters. Enchanters are strange as well
as powerful. Their magic is different and stronger, and many of them have
more than one life.

Now, if someone did not control all these busy magic users, ordinary people
would have a horrible time and probably end up as slaves. So the
government appoints the very strongest enchanter there is to make sure no
one misuses magic. This enchanter has nine lives and is known as the
Chrestomanci. You pronounce it KREST-OH-MAN-SEE. He has to have a
strong personality as well as strong magic. тАФDiana Wynne Jones

CONTENTS:

WARLOCK AT THE WHEEL

STEALER OF SOULS

CAROL ONEIR'S HUNDREDTH DREAM

THE SAGE OF THEARE

*******


Warlock at the Wheel

The Willing Warlock was a born loser. He lost his magic when Chrestomanci
took it away, and that meant he lost his usual way of making a living. So
he decided to take up a life of crime instead by stealing a motorcar,
because he loved motorcars, and sell-ing it. He found a beautiful car in
Wolvercote High Street, but he lost his head when a policeman saw him
trying to pick the lock and cycled up to know what he was doing. He ran.

The policeman pedaled after him, blowing his whistle, and the Willing
Warlock climbed over the nearest wall and ran again, with the whistle still
sounding, until he arrived in the backyard of a one-time Accredited Witch
who was a friend of his. "What shall I do?" he panted.

"How should I know?" said the Accredited Witch. "I'm not used to doing
without magic any more than you are. The only soul I know who's still in
business is a French wizard in Shepherd's Bush."