"Larry Niven - Limits" - читать интересную книгу автора (Niven Larry)

"We aren't all gone," Merle said, while Karskon smiled at how easily
they had broached the subject. "The merpeople went away, all right, but it
wasn't just because they're magical creatures. Their life styles include a lot
of magic. Whales don't practice much magic."

"Even so," Karskon wondered, "what are you doing on land? Aren't you
afraid you might, ah, change? Magic isn't dependable any more -- "

"But Rordray is. Rordray would get me out in time. Anyway, I spend most
of my time aboard Shrimp. See, if the change comes over me there, it's no
problem. A whale's weight would swamp my little boat and leave me floating."

"I still don't see-C -- "

"Sharks"

Ptli. -

"Damn brainless toothy wandering weapons! The more you kill the more the
blood draws more till -- " Merle shifted restlessly. "Anyway, there are no
sharks ashore. And there are books, and people to talk to. Out on the sea
there's only the whale songs. Now, I like the singing; who wouldn't? But it's
only family gossip, and weather patterns, and shoreline changes, and where are
the fish."

"That sounds useful."

"Sure it is. Fisherfolk learn the whale songs to find out where the fish
are. But for any kind of intelligent conversation you have to come ashore. Ah,
here's Rordray."

Rordray set three plates in place, bearing generous slabs of swordfish
and vegetables cooked in elaborate fashions. "What's under discussion?"

"Were-creatures," Karskon said. "They're having a terrible time of it
almost everywhere."

Rordray sat down. "Even in Rynildissen? The wolf people sector?"

"Well," Durily said uncomfortably, "they're changing. You know, there
are people who can change into animals, but that's because there are were-folk
among their ancestors. Most were-folk are animals who learned how to take
human form. The human shape has magic in it, you know." Rordray nodded, and
she continued. "In places where the magic's gone, it's terrible. The animals
lose their minds. Even human folk with some animal ancestry, they can't make
the change, but their minds aren't quite human either. Wolf ancestry makes for
good soldiers, but it's hard for them to stop. A touch of hyena or raccoon
makes for thieves. A man with a touch of lion makes a good general, but -- "

Merle shifted restlessly, as if the subject were painful to him. His