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

"It's there."

There was a moment of silence as Slant and the guard considered one another. The guard ended it by
saying "You won't state your business?"

Slant reconsidered; there was no reason not to tell the guard something, and it would apparently facilitate
his entrance. These people tended toward the suspicious, and a refusal to speak would just add to the
guard's suspicions. Besides, the man might be of help.

"I'm looking for a good wizard. I need some magic done."

"What sort of magic?"

"That's a personal matter. I've heard that there are several wizards in Awlmei; might you know the best
way to approach one?"

"There are several with shops; pick any of them."

Awlmei was set up differently from Teyzha, Slant realized. He had assumed that the wizards were the
ruling class everywhere on the planet, but here they had apparently preferred economic exploitation to
political use of their abilities. "Thank you. May I enter the city, then?"

The guard gave him a final inspection, looking him over from head to heel, and when he had satisfied
himself that Slant could not have a sword or other familiar weapon more dangerous than a knife on him,
he stepped back and rapped on the gate. He did not touch the cyborg and failed to detect the devices
inside his vest.

A voice answered the knock from beyond the doors, but Slant could not catch the words; the guard
replied with a nonsense phrase involving a green dog, and there was a rattling of latches being drawn
aside. The gates swung open and Slant stepped through, finding himself on a narrow street that wound its
way between low adobe buildings.

Beside him, closing the gate, was a youth clad in a ragged tunic. He held out a palm and said, "It's
customary to pay the gatekeeper something."

"I'm sorry," Slant replied, "I have no local currency. Perhaps when I leave I'll have something for you."

The lad shrugged and turned away, saying "It was worth a try."

Slant walked on, then paused when he was out of sight of the gate and took a look about him.

This city was much more what he had expected of a barbaric planet; it had none of Teyzha's splendor
and ornament The buildings were all a drab sun-baked yellow, and many had projecting beam ends
visible. The streets were unpaved and dusty—but just as free of sewage and refuse as the avenues of
Teyzha, for which he was grateful.

A small plaza lay ahead, crowded with pedestrians, and people hurried along every street he could see,
with an occasional horse or ox cart interspersed among them. Slant made his way into the square,
dodging the larger gatherings and listening to the speech of those he passed; he hoped to improve his