"L. E. Modesitt - Recluce 07 - The magic Engineer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"Nothing." His thoughts burn at the evasion. "Just one of the natural philosophies," he adds
quickly.
"It wouldn't be the one on mechanical devices, would it?" asks the tall man.
"Yes, father," Dorrin responds with a sigh, waiting for the lecture. :
Instead, his father responds with a deep breath. "Put it back on the shelf. Let's get on with
your studies."
As he reshelves the heavy book and turns toward the tall, thin man, Dorrin asks, "Why don't we
build some of the machines in the books?" )
"Such as?" The tall man in black steps around his son and proceeds toward the covered porch
beyond the library.
Dorrin turns and follows. "What about the heated water engine?"
"Heated water is steam." The Black wizard shakes his head. "What would happen if chaos energy
were loosed in the cold water?" The wizard sits down on the high stool with the short back.
"It wouldn't work. But-"


file:///F|/rah/L.%20E.%20Modesitt/Modesitt,%20...0Recluse%2007%20-%20The%20Magic%20Engineer.txt (1 of 289) [5/22/03 12:39:57 AM]
 file:///F|/rah/L.%20E.%20Modesitt/Modesitt,%20L%20E%20-%20Recluse%2007%20-%20The%20Magic%20Engineer.txt

"That's enough, Dorrin. There are reasons why we don't use those machines. Some can be easily
disrupted by chaos. Some actually require the constant attention of a chaos wizard, and you can
understand why that's not practical here on Recluce, I trust?" Dorrin nods quietly, as he sits on
the backless stool across from his father. He has heard the lecture before.
"We work with nature, Dorrin, not against it. That is the basis of order, and the foundation of
Recluce." The wizard pauses. "Now, tell me what the winds are like off Land's End."
Dorrin closes his eyes and concentrates for a time. Finally, he speaks. "They're light, like a
cold mist seeping from the north."
"What about the higher winds, the ones that direct the weather?"
Dorrin closes his eyes again.
"You should have felt them all. You have to be able to feel the air, Dorrin, feel it at all
levels, not just the low easy parts," explains the tall man in black. He looks from the sky above
the Eastern Ocean back to the red-headed youngster.
"What good is feeling something if you can't do anything with it?" The boy's voice is both
solemn and curious.
"Just knowing what the air and the weather are doing is important." Despite his tall, thin
build, the man's voice is resonant and authoritative. "I have told you before. The fanners and the
sailors need to know."
"Yes, ser," acknowledges the redhead. "But I can't help the plants,, and I cannot even call the
slightest of breezes."
"I'm sure that will come, Dorrin. In time, and with more work." The man in black sighs softly,
turning his eyes from the black stone railing to the other covered porch where a shaded table set
for four awaits. "Think about it."
"I have thought about it, father. I would rather be a smith or a woodworker. They make real
things. Even a healer helps people. You can see what happens. I don't want to spend my life
watching things. I want to do things and to create things."
"Sometimes, watching things saves many lives. Remember the big storm last year ..."
"Father . . . ? The legends say that Creslin could direct the storms. Why can't-"
"We've talked about that before, Dorrin. If we direct the storms, it will change the weather
all over the world, and Recluce could become a desert once again. Even more people would die. When
the Founders changed the world, thousands upon thousands died, and they almost died as well. Now,