"Jonathan Stroud - Bartimaeus 2 - The Golem's Eye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stroud Jonathan)

as red as an imp's. [8] He scratched at the back of his neck. "You don't need to tell me," he said. "I
know. How long have we got?"

[7] The telescope contained an imp whose gaze allowed humans to see by night. These are useful devices,
although capricious imps sometimes distort the view, or add perverse elements of their own: streams of golden
dust, strange dreamlike visions, or ghostly figures from the user's past.

[8] Comparing masters is rather like comparing facial spots: some are worse than others, but even the best
don't exactly tickle your fancy. This one was the twelfth Czech magician I'd served. He wasn't overly cruel, but he
was a bit sour, as if lemon juice ran in his veins. He was also thin-lipped and pedantic, obsessed with his duty to
the Empire.

The panther flicked its tail. "I'd give us an hour, no more."

Queezle looked back toward the main room, where the silent magicians toiled. "You're bringing
out the golems, I see," she said.

The magician nodded curtly. "They will cause great damage to the enemy."

"It won't be enough," I said. "Even with ten. Have you seen the size of the army out there?"

"As ever, Bartimaeus, your opinion is ill considered and unlooked for. This is a diversion only.
We plan to get His Highness away down the eastern steps. A boat is waiting at the river. The golems
will ring the castle and cover our retreat."

Queezle was still staring at the magicians; they stooped low over their crystals, mouthing
continuous silent instructions to their creatures. Faint moving images in the crystals showed each one
what his or her golem saw. "The British won't bother with the monsters," Queezle said. "They'll find
these operators and kill them."

My master bared his teeth. "By then the Emperor will be gone. And that, incidentally, is my new
charge for both of youтАФto guard His Highness during his escape. Understood?"

I held up a paw. The magician gave a heartfelt sigh. "Yes, Bartimaeus?"

"Well, sir," I said, "if I might make a suggestion. Prague's surrounded. If we try to escape the city
with the Emperor, we'll all die horribly. So why don't we just forget the old fool and slip away
instead? There's a little beer cellar on Karlova Street with a dried-up well. Not deep. The entrance is
a bit small, butтАФ"

He frowned. "You expect me to hide in there?"

"Well, it would be tight, but I reckon we could squeeze you in. Your pot belly might give us
trouble, but it's nothing a good shove wouldn't fixтАФOw!" My fur crackled; I broke off sharpish. As
always, the Red-hot Stipples made me lose my train of thought.

"Unlike you," the magician snarled, "I know the meaning of loyalty! I do not need to be
compelled to act honorably toward my master. I repeat: you are both to guard his life with your own.
Do you understand?"