"Stanley G. Weinbaum - Margaret Of Urbs 01 - The Black Flame" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weinbaum Stanley G)

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Like the revels of the devils down belowтАФlowтАФLOW! Like the revels of the devils down
below!"

"I must go," said Hull, smiling reluctantly. "There's work for me now."

"What does File make?" asked Vail.

Instantly Hull's smile faded. "He forgesтАФa sword!"

Vail too was no longer the joyous one of a moment ago. Over both of them had come a shadow, the
shadow of the Empire. Out in the blue hills of Ozarky Joaquin Smith was marching.

Evening. Hull watched the glint of a copper moon on Vail's copper hair, and leaned back on the
bench. Not the one near the pump this time; that had been already occupied by two laughing couples,
and though they had been welcomed eagerly enough, Hull had preferred to be alone. It wasn't mountain
shyness any more, for his great, good-natured presence had found ready friendship in Ormiston village; it
was merely the projection of that moodiness that had settled over both of them at parting, and so they sat
now on the bench near Vail Ormiston's gate at the edge of town. Behind them the stone house loomed
dark, for her father was scurrying about in town on Confederation business, and the help had availed
them-selves of the evening of freedom to join the crowd in the village square. But the yellow daylight of
the oil-lamp showed across the road in the house of Hue Helm, the farmer who had brought Hull from
Norse to Ormiston.

It was at this light that Hull stared thoughtfully. "I like fighting," he repeated, "but somehow the joy
has gone out of this. It's as if one waited an approaching thunder cloud."

"How." asked Vail in a timid, small voice, "can one fight magic?"

"There is no magic," said the youth, echoing Old Einar's words. "There is no such thing."

"Hull! How can you say such stupid words?"

"I say what was told me by one who knows."
 "No magic!" echoed Vail. "Then tell me what gives the wizards of the south their power. Why is it
that Jaoquin Smith has never lost a battle? What stole away the courage of the men of the Memphis
League, who are good fighting men? And whatтАФfor this I have seen with my own eyesтАФpushes the
horseless wagons of N'Orleans through the streets, and what lights that city by night? If not magic, then
what?"

"Knowledge," said Hull. "The knowledge of the An-cients."

"The knowledge of the Ancients was magic," said the girl. "Everyone knows that the Ancients were
wizards, warlocks, and sorcerers. If Holland, Olin, and Martin Sair are not sorcerers, then what are
they? If Black Margot is no witch, then my eyes never looked on one."

"Have you seen them?" queried Hull.

"Of course, all but Holland, who is dead. Three years ago during the Peace of Memphis my father