"03.Time Streams" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGough Scott)

reconciled-the Brothers' War would never have been fought,
the brotherhood of Gix would never have gotten a foothold in
the world, and Argoth and most of Terisiare would not have
been destroyed. If he had worked with his brother instead of
against him, combining their genius and the power of both
halves of the stone they had discovered, the pathway from
Phyrexia might have been cut off the very day it was
accidentally opened.
Reconciliation is not in the man any more than regret or
remorse or friendship. Every sin of omission Urza committed
against his brother, he repeats now against his own students
... and his newborn silver man.

- Barrin, Mage Master of Tolaria

Chapter 2

The students were gone from the laboratory. Only Master
Malzra, his trusted associate Barrin, and the silver man
remained among the dark implements and ubiquitous sketches.
"You've learned much in your first day," said Barrin
gently. "We have been observing, remotely. You have
interacted well."
"I have a friend," the silver man volunteered.
A creased smile played across Barrin's face. "Yes.
Teferi, my prodigal prodigy-we know about that."
"He told me many things," the probe continued. His voice
was edged with suspicion. "He explained the academy to me.
He has named me Arty Shovelhead."
The mage sighed in irritation. "Teferi is a brilliant
young mage- my most promising student-but he likes to stir
up trouble. He makes things twice as hard for himself, and
three times as hard for everyone else-"
"Teferi is a good first friend," interrupted Malzra with
uncharacteristic alacrity. He glanced between the silver man
and the man of flesh, then seemed to withdraw behind his
glimmering eyes. "After all, Barrin, you said the probe has
emotions-needs friends."
"Yes," the mage said, diverting the conversation at its
awkward turn. "Master Malzra is eager for you to begin the
experiments you were created to carry out. That's why we
called you back this evening."
Barrin moved to one wall, opened a small hatch, and drew
forth a long pole three times his height. At the tip of the
pole was a small hook. Barrin hoisted the hook to the
ceiling, engaged it in a hidden slot, and pulled downward
once. A large panel in the dome shifted and then slowly
separated from the smooth curve. On hydraulic rods, the
panel eased downward from the dome. A large, complex machine
of glass cylinders, metal casings, and snaking tubes