"Ann Maxwell - Fire Dancer 3 - Dancer's Illusion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

would have had less trouble there.тАЭ

FтАЩlTiri sighed. тАЬIтАЩd rather be invisible while I talk,тАЭ he muttered. тАЬHolding invisibility
couldnтАЩt be much harder than telling you....тАЭ He made a curt gesture. тАЬAs you said, our
society is based on illusion. Nearly all Yhelles can project illusions. Some are better than
others. There are different categories of illusion, as well.тАЭ
 Rheba remembered the young Yhelle illusionist she had seen on Loo. His gift was
appearing to be the essence of everyoneтАЩs individual sexual desire. The result had been
compelling for the audience and confusing for herтАФshe had seen the appearance of Kirtn
on the young illusionist, yet Kirtn was her mentor, not her lover. The image still returned
to disturb her. She banished it each time, telling herself that it was merely her knowledge
of legendary BreтАЩn sensuality that had caused her to identify Yhelle illusion as BreтАЩn
reality.

тАЬThe result is that while other societies have tangible means of rewarding their members,
Yhelle doesnтАЩt,тАЭ continued fтАЩlTiri. тАЬWhat good is a jeweled badge when even children
can make theappearance of that badge on themselves? What good is a magnificent house
when most Yhelles can project the appearance of a castle? What good is a famous тАШface
when almost anyone can duplicate the appearance of that face? What good is beauty?
Even poetry can appear more exquisite than it is. One of my daughters could project a
poem that would make you weep ... but when anyone else read the words, they were
merely ordinary.тАЭ

The illusionist sighed, and iтАЩsNara took up the explanation. тАЬHe doesnтАЩt mean that
everything on Yhelle is illusory. Our money is real enough most of the time, because we
need it for the framework of real food and cloth and shelter we build our illusions on. But
the elaboration of necessity that is the foundation of most societies just doesnтАЩt exist on
Yhelle. We have nearly everything we wantтАФor at least theappearance of having it.тАЭ She
looked anxiously from BreтАЩn to Senyas. тАЬDo you understand?тАЭ

тАЬI doubt it,тАЭ said Kirtn, тАЬbut IтАЩm trying. Do you mean that a Yhelle could take mush and
make it appear to be a feast?тАЭ

тАЬYes,тАЭ said iтАЩsNara eagerly. тАЬA good illusionist can even make ittaste like a feast.тАЭ

тАЬBut canтАЩt you see through the illusions?тАЭ asked Rheba.

Both illusionists looked very uncomfortable. тАЬThatтАЩs a ... difficult ... subject for us. Like
cowardice for the J/taals or reproduction for the Lems.тАЭ

тАЬThat may be,тАЭ said Rheba neutrally, тАЬbut itтАЩs crucial. We wonтАЩt be shocked.тАЭ

FтАЩlTiri almost smiled. Even so, his words were slow, his tone reluctant. тАЬSome illusions
are easier to penetrate than others. It depends on your skill, and the power of the creator.
But it is unspeakably ... crude ... to comment on reality. And who would want to? Who
prefers real mush to an apparent feast? Especially as they are equally nourishing. Do you
understand?тАЭ

BreтАЩn and Senyas exchanged a long silence. тАЬKeep going,тАЭ said Rheba at last. тАЬWeтАЩre
behind you, but weтАЩre not out of breath yet.тАЭ