"Matthew Woodring Stover - Caine 02 - Blade Of Tyshalle2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stover Matthew Woodring)

"So? That's his problem, not mine. The money is-" He spits a shred of tobacco onto the carpet. "-not an
issue:'

"He will simply never become an effective spellcaster. I'm sorry, but there are certain restrictions
imposed by the Studio. The examinations administered by the Graduation Board are very stringent."

Chandra makes a gesture as though to take the Businessman's arm and lead him away. "Perhaps I can
show you our newest pilot program, the priesthood school. This particular spellcasting variant has the
advantage that the practitioner need enter the casting trance only under very controlled conditions-that is,
under the guise of religious ritual-"

"Cut the crap:' Vilo stuffs his cigar back into his mouth. "I got a shitload of money in that kid out there. A
shitload. I don't give a rat's ass about the Studio's restrictions, or the goddamn examinations. That kid is
going to graduate from this toilet, and then he's going to Overworld."

"I'm afraid that's simply impossible-"

"You gonna make a liar out of me?" Vilo's eyes seem to retreat into his face, becoming small and
dangerous. He hammers the next word."Administrator?"

"Please, Businessman, you, you must understand, he's been in the magick program fourteen months; we
must either, either, ah, graduate him or wash him out in only ten more, and his, and hisprogress-"

Vilo goes back to the window; he's more interested in the cherry on the end of his cigar than in
Chandra's stammer. "Your parents live in, what, Chicago, right? That nice old frame house onFullerton ,
west ofClark ."

Chandra stands very still. Ice water trickles down his spine. "Yes, Businessman ..."

"You gotta understand that I don't make bad investments. You follow? Hari gets his shot."

"Businessman, I-" Chandra says desperately, then with a massive exercise of will steadies his voice.
"There are other options that can be explored .. "

"I'm listening."

"Please, Businessman, perhaps I was too hasty in suggesting that Michaelson cannot succeed. He is,
after all, in Battle Magick, which is the most difficult school, but it is the one place where his, erm,
aggressive na ture may work to his advantage. My idea-with your permission-is to provide him with a
tutor:'

"He doesn't have tutors? What the hell amI paying for?"
 "Tutors, yes, of course, staff tutors. Michaelson doesn't respond well to directed instruction. He, ah-"
Chandra decides not to tell him of the brutal beating Michaelson had inflicted on Instructor Pullman. I
knew about it, so did most of the students at the Conservatory; it was the best gossip we'd had all year.
Chandra believes that issue is settled; and, really, the man had gotten no worse than he deserved. In
Chandra's mind, to make advances on a boy with Michaelson's psychosexual dysfunctions had been
irresponsible to the point of criminality. Speaking for the students-well,Pullman 's a nasty little groper; a
lot of us wished we'd done what Michaelson did.