Rysern - The winter jade 
the window filtered through a halo of light funeral, the last remnants of twilight gray and muggy. Jorbel arched his back soaked with sweat, separating it from the canvas of the chair, the illusion of finding a bit 'of relief, but discovering that you have the shirt stuck to the skin. Reached out and pinched the hem, pulling off to scollarsela. Impatience snorted and stood up to take a cold beer, throwing the sink that remained in the can in his hand, now warm as piss and outgassing.
Passing in front of the wing of the cabinet permanently greased glass vacuum that would serve as a pantry, he paused a moment to observe the reflection of his face, tired and lacking energy. The bags under his eyes always seemed heavier and white hair seemed to multiply by the day. He was now convinced that the stroke of the fortieth year he would not have been headed by a single hair brown.
is rejected in the chair, trying to focus on that stupid TV show, judging from the scenery, must have cost a lot 'of money. She smiled watching the dragons of fiberglass, the bursts of multicolored light, the silvery gown embroidered with the presenter small scales, which gave the impression of a surface machined by draconic finest tanning industry genomics. Too bad that the industry could not afford gnomic to work outside of their burrows got shit in the tunnels below the city.
a grimace of disgust was replaced by the expression of impatience and the heat had painted on the face of Jorbel. He found himself thinking again about the absurd restrictions imposed on everyone, including humans, the so-called civilization to which he belonged. The other races were in possession of knowledge that would make such a leap in aerospace technology forward to embarrass the first attempts to interplanetary travel, too difficult and expensive. If only she could tap directly into the technological resources of dwarfs, token, gnomes, sirdeni, but most of the elves, could direct its research toward shores a little 'less uncertain of risky assumptions was basing.
A lightning tore the stillness of the room become dark, forcing Jorbel to shelter his eyes with his hands. Do not even try the impetus to move away, he was just sitting, nailed to the chair as a grotesque and broken sculpture. She opened her eyes with difficulty. The fingers still trembling before her face did not allow him to focus on the scene that the parade was from before.
Four elves, dressed in a long gray coat from the collar, as if to mock the heat wave, were standing in front of him, with green eyes as icy water of the lagoon fixed on his face drawn in a grimace of astonishment and fright. One of elves are distinguished by a section that stood out on the long silver hair corvina, framing the left side of the face. A particular almost insignificant but that the authority invested in some inherent way. However, it was entirely another to steal the attention of Jorbel for the unknown object as if wielding a weapon, just bet against him.
He tried to stammer a few words, while a throng of sensations inextricable made its way through his body, pulling the surprise, fear, trembling with impatience and atavistic instinct to flee.
was the elf from the silver lock to take the floor, chanting the syllables one after the other as a mechanical singsong. Seemed stesse recitando una filastrocca imparata a memoria in una lingua evidentemente diversa dalla propria, forse addirittura sconosciuta.
- Il Dottor Jorbel Gullen?
- Sì, sono... - deglutì - sono io.
L'elfo parve soppesare la sua risposta, evidentemente cercando di capire il significato delle sue smozzicate parole. D'istinto, Jorbel mosse la testa su e giù, per rafforzare il concetto. L'elfo parve soddisfatto e diede un lieve colpetto sulla spalla del suo collega, che alzò leggermente il tiro dell'inquietante pistola.
- N-no, no! Aspettate un attimo! Che significa? Che volete?
Scosse le mani in un gesto tremante e sconnesso, mostrando i palmi in segno di resa. Balbettò qualche parola, poi trattenne breath when the two elves looked hesitant in the eye. The other two buildings were left in silence and Jorbel was as if they never existed, but here is one of them stepped forward. Her look was that of one who had grasped the situation and was about to unravel a skein. Jorbel confident nodded in his direction, full of hope than not to have even remotely imagined.
I heard them talking quietly in their fluent and musical language. He could only imagine the severity of the subject, but could very well be a poem that told of fabulous events and romantic, the words slipped into the air as light as silk screens. When the elf who seemed to have turned to him pardoned, Jorbel perceived exertion and disgust that being that he was enduring yet to be understood. He felt deeply embarrassed as he felt his rough tongue than elven.
- Dr. Giillen, perhaps there was a misunderstanding.
- What kind of misunderstanding? - Asked suspiciously submission.
- What do you know the project "Rysern?
- Project "Rysern? Do not think I have ever heard ...
Jorbel remained thoughtful, truly focused on that word was unable to conjure up anything significant.
- Dr. Giillen, it is safe?
elf's gaze took on a dubious rhetoric and demand played tremendously. Jorbel era certo che se avesse mentito, non solo se ne sarebbe accorto, ma probabilmente avrebbe revocato la grazia appena concessa.
- Non ho veramente idea di che cosa stiate parlando - rispose col tono più arrendevole di cui era capace.
- Allora forse ci siamo veramente sbagliati. In effetti, - aggiunse sornione - lei non ha l'espressione di chi sta lavorando a un progetto a danno della nostra razza.
- Assolutamente no! Non potrei neanche lontanamente pensare a un tale progetto.
Sollevato e fiducioso, tentò quindi di giocarsi la sua carta migliore:
- Non avete idea di quanto ammiri voi elfi, sul serio! Ho sempre portato avanti i miei studi ispirandomi alla vostra tecnologia, così elegante e funzionale, e soprattutto...
L'elfo lo bloccò con un gesto della mano:
- Non importa dottor Gullen, abbiamo compreso, non serve che ci aduliate in questo modo.
- No, no, mi state fraintendendo! Sul serio, ho sempre pensato a voi come gli unici ad aver raggiunto la sintesi armonica di scienza e arte, creando una forma di tecnologia che noi non ci sogniamo neanche lontanamente.
L'elfo si mostrò sinceramente sorpreso e parve ammorbidirsi, sorridendo a Jorbel e rivolgendosi a lui con una nota di dolcezza nella voce. Per un istante Jorbel ebbe l'impressione che gli stesse parlando in elfico. Si avvicinò alla poltrona vuota di fianco a quella di Jorbel, si sedette e gli sorrise.
- A questo punto, dottor Gullen, sono curioso. Su cosa sta lavorando?
Jorbel non aspettava altro dal primo giorno in cui aveva messo piede nei laboratori della facoltà di ingegneria aerospaziale, ma mai avrebbe osato sperarlo veramente. Con la coda dell'occhio notò gli altri elfi che si accomodavano sulle sedie attorno al tavolo da pranzo e si vergognò dello squallore della sua abitazione. Dissimulando l'imbarazzo, si costrinse a fissare gli occhi verde giada dell'elfo che si era seduto accanto a lui.
- A dire il vero sto studiando una nuova teoria per i viaggi interstellari.
- Davvero? La vostra tecnologia è ancora indietro, arrivate a malapena ai pianeti più vicini e non con poche difficoltà. E ormai gran parte delle vostre teorie sono state accantonate o ritenute impraticabili allo stato attuale delle cose.
- Ho elaborato un'ipotesi che a quanto pare ci permetterebbe di sorvolare sulla gran parte dei dilemmi teorici e degli impedimenti tecnici.
- Dev'essere qualcosa di assolutamente nuovo allora. Su cosa si basa la vostra teoria dunque?
- Sul semplice fatto che voi elfi viaggiate senza problemi nello spazio e, sospetto, nel tempo.
L'elfo si irrigidì. Parve soppesare l'ultima frase in cui Jorbel pareva aver riversato tutta la sua soddisfazione per il risultato intellettuale a cui era giunto. Tornò a sorridere, rilassandosi appena sulla poltrona.
- Ma dottor Gullen, noi abbiamo la magia.
- Esattamente! Io voglio utilizzare la magia, esattamente come fate voi.
Il sorriso che gli si stampò his face betrayed a determination that the elf left speechless. Seeing that they remained with her eyes fixed on him, Jorbel thought he had said a word too. Then tried to justify himself:
- Actually, I did not mean exactly like you, but rather inspire me the way you use magic to expand the potential of technology, making, so to speak, turn a blind eye to the nature and the laws of physics.
The elf did not lose the expression forbidden, but still showed interest in the discourse of the researcher.
- Forgive my question perhaps disrespectful towards him, but how he thinks he can tap into the magic? She is certainly not a scholar of magic, the less it seems to me has inherent power, which is not common, but not impossible.
- It 's here comes the fun! - Jorbel jumped on the chair, as if to take a leap into the sky coveted. - I think I found a way to use magic without knowing or inherently possess. You see, every time it draws to a power source, whether external or congenital, only part of the energy is released as a magic effect, while an indefinite quantity is dispersed. The magic, essentially, is subjected to the harsh law of return, and as you may have honed his art, will still be impossible to harness the energy in its entirety. If il calore non può però essere recuperato, se non in minima parte, è invece possibile farlo con l'energia magica. Ora, io credo di sapere come effettuare questo procedimento e i primi risultati sono senz'altro incoraggianti.
Nella stanza calò un silenzio imbarazzato. L'elfo osservava Jorbel con uno sguardo gelido, nonostante il sorriso non fosse scomparso dal suo volto. Sembrava che stesse cercando di leggergli la mente, alla ricerca di una parvenza di veridicità nelle sue parole.
- Io, ecco... mi rendo conto che possa suonare assurdo, ma vi posso assicurare che ci sono ampi margini di successo.
- Mi perdoni dottor Gullen, ma non vedo proprio come sia possibile. Lei è convinto che noi elfi integriamo le conoscenze tecnologiche con quelle magiche, ma le assicuro che è in grave errore. Ciò che noi rendiamo possibile evadendo le leggi naturali è dovuto soltanto a un uso accurato e sapiente dell'arte magica. La nostra tecnologia non c'entra nulla. Sarà forse differente da quella di uso comune, ma non basterebbe di certo a raggiungere risultati tanto eclatanti.
Jorbel parve disorientato. Erano mesi che lavorava a quel progetto, anni interi che vi ragionava sopra, e tutti i conti sembravano tornare, come anche i risultati dei primi esperimenti. Tentò qualche balbettante parola di riscossa, ma gli uscì dalla gola soltanto un verso soffocato, mentre il volto era ormai immerso in un torrido bagno di sudore.
L'elfo venne in suo aiuto:
- Per carità, non mi fraintenda, non sto dicendo che il suo lavoro è del tutto inutile, probabilmente parte della teoria potrebbe essere riciclabile, ma così com'è parrebbe posta su un presupposto del tutto errato. Mi piacerebbe molto rimanere qui per approfondire l'argomento, sono molto attratto dal metodo di lavoro che adottate nei vostri laboratori, ma suppongo che i miei compagni di viaggio stiano esaurendo la pazienza.
Si voltò indietro, come a voler controllare di persona se fossero effettivamente contrariati per la lunga attesa. I loro volti glaciali e senza espressione sembravano il ritratto dell'inverno più spietato e forse durante le ere glaciali l'intero pianeta aveva assunto gli stessi riflessi freddi e scintillanti di quegli occhi, che risplendevano sulla loro pelle evanescente come gocce di giada incastonate su cammei d'avorio.
Qualche breve parola risuonò tra loro e Jorbel ne carpì ancora una volta soltanto il suono, brevi stralci di un salmodiare dal sapore ancestrale.
L'elfo si voltò nuovamente verso di lui, sempre sorridendo:
- A quanto pare non avevo torto. Ma la discussione mi interessa oltremodo, per cui, se non le dispiace, rimarrei qui per portarla avanti, mentre i miei colleghi torneranno ai loro impegni.
Gli occhi di Jorbel brillarono di soddisfazione, mentre gli altri tre elfi si alzavano lentamente e si avvicinavano al centro della stanza. Uno di loro, quello col ciuffo di capelli argentati, intonò un salmo dal tono decisamente più incisivo e un disco luminoso apparve di fronte a loro, simile a un fluttuante specchio di energia lattiginosa. Le creature accennarono un saluto, più diretto al loro compagno che a Jorbel, rimasto imbambolato, lo sguardo adorante, davanti a quel prodigio della razza elfica. Uno dopo l'altro entrarono nel disco, sparendo dalla stanza e chiudendo il portale dopo il passaggio del terzo viaggiatore.
- E' spettacolare - sibilò Jorbel con un raschio in gola per l'emozione.
- No, dottor Gullen, è semplicemente magia, proprio ciò di cui stavamo parlando prima. Mi vorrebbe veramente far credere di essere in grado di riprodurre un effetto simile soltanto incanalando l'energia magica in qualche astruso macchinario?
La domanda dell'elfo, Although the rhetorical tone, it was not mocking or arrogant. He seemed genuinely impressed by the statements of Jorbel, curious and skeptical at the same time.
- Actually, now I feel a bit 'confused. Yet I am convinced that if you let me explain, you may see with his own eyes how the theory is not far-fetched.
- Look, as it may sound unorthodox to purists' ears, I must confess that if the structure of the project is really good as claimed, I could direct it better in his researches, so as to straighten the course and achieve a concrete result.
Jorbel gloated, would never have expected such a help. He jumped up and apologized for stirring, recovered a few sheets of bad copy and a pencil on the table and sat down in his place. Approached the table and leaned on the glass shelf covered with fingerprints and dust. Patterns began to converge with short strokes and nervous, while the explanation was flowing loose and tidy.
As the man exposed his theory of the elf, more receptive, he leaned on the diagrams, so that the heads of the two found themselves a few inches apart. Jorbel When he looked up to make sure that his party was following properly, he found himself staring at the green of his eyes. It was so intimidated by facing you now and look to continue the exposition of the project. It took almost an hour to end the long debate will include introduction and additional notes, but ultimately felt very satisfied with the result. Even the elf seemed the same opinion, so his eyes shining.
- It 's amazing Dr. Giillen, a great job. I hope that the original drawings are well kept and away from prying eyes.
- Do not worry about this, I took all the precautions. No one can enter except myself.
The elf smiled enthusiastically and said a few words in his language, perhaps an appreciation in thought, but when his three companions appeared suddenly in the middle of the room, the exact spot where Jorbel had seen them enter the portal, he was clear that he had never gone.
The elf next to him gave a slight nod to the armed stranger who raised the instrument towards the human.
The search was long and unsuccessful. The four elves had searched every corner of the house, pulling out all sorts of notes, booklets and notations on teleportation and related assumptions Elvish of operation. They had come to Dr. Giillen during their ongoing investigation in search of the wake of a leak of information about the project "Rysern" and had faced a researcher who had failed to grasp the secret of their technology. The elves had always acted in such a way as to suggest that it was just magic to allow them to use forms of teleportation also enormous distances and never would have expected that a human would understand the complex integration with advanced scientific knowledge. But they knew that humans would come sooner or later to understand the dynamics of interstellar travel, and for this had begun to "Rysern," the Winter of Jade, a project to maintain the technological level of the people always just a step away the discovery or realization of the final working hypothesis.
identify avenues to explore with elaborate divination which emerged in the names of those who could jeopardize the safety of the elven community located in places far too simple because the human spaceships could get there. Once a track was checked, nothing remained to be done to eliminate any possibility of development. Until then, however, had clashed with theories only spans the air or too complex to see them implemented within a reasonably short periods. Moreover, the threat of death was more than enough to get easy confessions.
Dr. Giillen was a surprise. They were about to leave him in his squalid living, yet with his mouth open in amazement, when they were faced with one of the more risky but more concrete theories they had ever heard. The risk that his studies were going to port it was far too high.
They approached the corpse sitting in the chair with his head cocked to one side and the blank stare off into space. The crested silver elf placed a hand on her forehead covered with cold sweat beads and let your mind wander in the memories of the dead. He found no reference to drawings or writings left by Dr. Giillen and lifted his hand from his forehead with a grimace of disappointment. One of his companions loaded the corpse on his shoulder and followed the others in the portal of light that had been opened at the center of the room. One after another they crossed the threshold of light ivory, leaving behind a pile of blank paper and a pencil from the tip consumed.
Participant at the "Sanctuary" for
Asengard Editions.
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