"Robert Weinberg - Logical Magician 01 - A Logical Magician" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weinberg Robert)

Roger nodded glumly. "He's displayed it four times already. We're not sure exactly
what it did, but each time it was used, the charm emitted a powerful burst of magic. Our
sensitives recognized the discharge immediately."
"A lone man, armed with a talisman," said the Lord of the Lions, sounding curious.
And slightly worried. "You think the old wizard summoned him to stop us?"
"I'm not the god here," said Roger stiffly. "You're the one who answers all the
questions." His tone left no doubt what he thought of that arrangement. "I do remember
you telling me that every time a challenge to order arises, so does a champion of the status
quo. This guy could be the opposition."
"Quite possible," said the Crouching One. "Did the Huntsman question the
magician, or his daughter?"
"That's not been possible," said Roger. "They've been unconscious since their
abduction. Despite all attempts to wake them, the pair have remained asleep. Von Bern
suspects a reflexive spell, one that takes effect immediately on captivity. It prevents the
prisoners from revealing any secrets. And, torture is singularly ineffective when the victim
is comatose."
"Bah," grumbled the Lord of the Lions, sounding disgusted. "In my day, things were
a lot easier. None of this sneaking around in the shadows nonsense. I was a god. My
followers worshipped me. They treated me with respect. When I spoke, the world
trembled. I was feared ."
"I know, I know," said Roger, shaking his head. He was tired of listening to the
demigod's complaints. Over the past few weeks, the Lion God had repeated its catalog of
woes hundreds of times. It took very little to start its complaining. No more virgin
priestesses. No more blood sacrifices. No more holy wars . The list went on and on.
God or not, the Crouching One was a colossal bore.
"Well, best that we assume the worst," declared the Lord of the Lions. "I remember
how all of us gods laughed at that character, Gilgamesh. What a pest he turned out to be.
And then, of course, there was Moses. Nobody expected that sanctimonious busybody
would cause such trouble."
"Moses?" repeated Roger, his mouth open in astonishment. "You knew Moses?"
"All of the Immortals knew Moses," said the Crouching One. "He was our
baneтАФthe first link in the chain of events that banished me and all those like me from the
face of the Earth. Damned Hebrew was a lot more dangerous than he looked."
The Lord of the Lions smiled its special smile, the smile that gave Roger the shakes
every time he saw it. The catlike smile, ancient and mysterious, without a trace of
humorтАФor humanity. "But now I am back, and I won't be fooled so easily a second time.
Not at all."
Blue sparks flashed as the demigod rubbed its hands together. "Call back our allies
in Chicago. Let them put out the word to all those who roam the night. This mortal
champion must be found and destroyed. He must be crushed before he can interfere with
our plans. I want him dead. Now."
"They might not be able to locate him so easily," said Roger, edging back to the
door. When the Crouching One started playing with hellfire, it was time to leave. "And, if
he's this champion like you think, he might not be a pushover."
"Perhaps," said the Lord of the Lions. "Perhaps. But, he can be traced by the
talisman in his possession. Von Bern will know how to do that at least. Night will soon fall
in Chicago. The forces of darkness are strongest in the midnight hours. The German and
his allies will not fail me." The demigod clenched its hands into fists. "They dare not fail
me."
"Yes, sir," said Roger, scurrying out of the room. "Yes, sir."