"Jack Vance - Green Magic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

" 'Can we freely manipulate the physical extensions of Earth?' " The sprite seemed amused. "You refer,
so I assume, to the various aspects of space, time, mass, energy, life, thought and recollection."

"Exactly."

The sprite raised its green corn-silk eyebrows. "I might as sensibly ask: can you break an egg by striking
it with a club? The response is on a similar level of seriousness."

Fair had expected a certain amount of condescension and impatience, and was not abashed. "How may I
learn these techniques?"

"In the usual manner: through diligent study."

"Ah, indeed--but where could I study? Who would teach me?"

The sprite made an easy gesture, and whorls of green smoke trailed from his fingers to spin through the
air. "I could arrange the matter, but since I bear you no particular animosity, I'll do nothing of the sort.
And now, I must be gone."

"Where do you go?" Fair asked in wonder and longing. "May I go with you?"

The sprite, swirling a drape of bright green dust over its shoulders, shook his head. "You would be less
than comfortable."

"Other men have explored the worlds of magic!"

"True: your uncle Gerald McIntyre, for instance."

"My uncle Gerald learned green magic?"

"To the limit of his capabilities. He found no pleasure in his learning. You would do well to profit by his
experience and modify your ambitions." The sprite turned and walked away.



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 Green Magic

Fair watched it depart. The sprite receded in space and dimension, but never reached the wall of Fair's
room. At a distance which might have been fifty yards, the sprite glanced back, as if to make sure that
Fair was not following, then stepped off at another angle and disappeared.

Fair's first impulse was to take heed and limit his explorations. He was an adept in white magic, and had
mastered the black art--occasionally he evoked a demon to liven a social gathering which otherwise
threatened to become dull--but he had by no means illuminated every mystery of purple magic, which is
the realm of Incarnate Symbols.

Howard Fair might have turned away from the green cycle except for three factors.

First was his physical appearance. He stood rather under medium height, with a swarthy face, sparse