"Sean McMullen - Souls in the Great Machine" - читать интересную книгу автора (McMullen Sean)

"I have been practicing," she volunteered.

"You take a long time between moves, but oh, what moves. I have
learned more from this game than my previous hundred. You could take
my title from me, Highliber Zarvora, I know mastery when I see it."

The Highliber continued to tap the silent keys and glance at the row of
gears. The same slim, confident fingers that had harvested his king so
easily now flickered over the softly clacking keys in patterns that
were meaningless to Fergen.

"I am already the Highliber, the Mayor's Librarian," she said without
turning to him. "My library is Libris, the biggest in the world and
the hub of a network of libraries stretching over many may orates My
staff is more than half that of the mayoral palace. Why should your
position interest me?"

"But, but a Master of the Mayor ranks above a mere librarian,"
spluttered Fergen.

"Only in heraldic convention, Fras Gamesmaster. I enjoy a game of
champions, but my library means more to me. I shall tell nobody about
your defeat."

Fergen's face was burning hot. She could take his position, but she
did not want it! Was an insult intended? Were there grounds for a
duel? The Highliber was known to be a deadly shot with a flintlock,
and had killed several of her own staff in duels over her
modernizations in the huge library.

"Would you like another game?" asked the Highliber, facing him but
still striking at the keys.

"My head.." feels like it's been used as an anvil, Frelle Highliber."
"Well then return later," she said, typing her own symbols for /
CHAMPIONS: ELAPSED TIME? / then pressing a lever with her foot.
Fergen heard the hum of tensed wires, and the clatter of levers and
gears from within the wall. "I could teach you nothing," he said in
despair.

"You are the finest opponent that I have," replied the Highliber. "I
think it--"

She stopped in mid-sentence, staring at the row of gears.

"You will excuse me, please, there is something I must attend to," she
said, her voice suddenly tense,

"The gears and their dots have a message?"
"Yes, yes, a simple code," she said, standing quickly and taking him by