"Lawrence Watt-Evans - War Surplus 01 - The Cyborg And The Sorcerers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

"I don't know."

The councillor turned back for another session of whispering; Slant watched, and showed no outward
reaction when the computer said, "Query: Report status."

"I'm in what I believe to be the center of local government, being questioned by a governing council. I
hope I can learn more about the gravitational disturbances from the framing of their questions."

"This is not a recommended approach. Advisable course of action would be escape followed by further
investigation in another area showing gravitational anomalies representing enemy weapons research."

"What? Where?"

"Appropriate subject locations may be found in several places on this planet. Eleven have been
identified."

"I don't know; we've already spent so much time here." He really didn't want to start all over, particularly
since wizards in other places might be less eager to exorcise his particular demon. He tried to think of a
convincing reason for staying that wouldn't put his loyalty in question.

"Prepare to attempt escape. Ship will land near you and provide covering fire."

"What, inside the city?"
"Affirmative."

"That'll do a lot of damage; is it necessary?"

"Why is the demon interested in our magic?" The whispering session was over.

"Affirmative. Maximum possible destruction has high distraction and deterrence value, and is in
accordance with standard procedure."

"I don't know," he said aloud; at the same time he asked the computer telepathically, "May I warn these
people? It would have high propaganda value as a humanitarian gesture."

"Is our magic that much different from its own?" the wizard asked.

"Affirmative," the computer answered his request

"Listen, in a couple of minutes my ship is going to rescue me and destroy anything that gets in its way; it
could wreck the entire city. I suggest you get out of here and take shelter." He shouted this warning,
loudly and slowly and clearly, so that everyone in the room would hear and understand despite the stir it
created.

His guards stepped forward and tried to grab him; one called, "We'll hold him! He won't get away this
time!"

The guard had miscalculated, however; he had assumed Slant was an ordinary human, and that it took a
perceptible time for him to react The human nervous system has synapses that transmit impulses from one