Read Online The warlock unlocked by Christopher Stasheff - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christopher Stasheff
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Epic, Science Fiction - General, Science Fiction; Fantasy; & Magic, Fiction - Science Fiction, Space Opera
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the vocations, but was a bit leery of the reasons—so theVatican got wind of it. The Curia had its doubts about his sense of humor, too, so they transferred him toRome , where they could keep an eye on him. As an excuse for this surveillance, they made him Chief Engineer of TelevisionVatican .
“The term is confusing today, of course; ‘television’ was like 3DT, but with a flat picture; 3DT was originally an abbreviation for ‘three-dimensional television.’ Yes, this was quite a few centuries ago—the Year of Our Lord 2020.
“Well. Father Vidicon was sad to leave-off teaching, but he was overjoyed at actually being able to work with television equipment again… and he didn’t let his nearness to the Pope dampen his enthusiasm; he still insisted on referring to the Creator as ‘the Cosmic Cathode…’ ”
“Praise God, from Whom electrons flow!
Praise Him, the Source of all we know!
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Whose order’s in the stellar host!
For in machines, He is the Ghost!”
“Father Vidicon,” Monsignor reproved, “that air has a blasphemous ring.”
“Merely irreverent, Monsignor.” Father Vidicon peered at the oscilloscope and adjusted the pedestal on Camera Two. “But then, you’re a Dominican.”
“And what is thatsupposed to mean?”
“Simply that what you hear may not be what I said.” Father Vidicon leaned over to the switcher and punched up color bars.
“He has a point.” Brother Anson looked up from the TBC circuit board he was diagnosing. “ Ithought it quite reverent.”
“You would; it was sung.” Monsignor knew that Brother Anson was a Franciscan. “How much longer must I delay my rehearsal, Father Vidicon? I’ve an Archbishop and two Cardinals waiting!”
“You can begin when the camera tube decides to work, Monsignor.” Father Vidicon punched up Camera Two again, satisfied that the oscilloscope wasreading correctly. “If you insist on bringing in Cardinals, you must be prepared for a breakdown.”
“I really don’t see why a red cassock would cause so much trouble,” Monsignor grumbled.
“You wouldn’t; you’re a director. But these old plumbicon tubes just don’t like red.” Father Vidicon adjusted the chrominance. “Of course, if you could talk His Holiness into affording a few digital-plate cameras…”
“Father Vidicon, you know what they cost! And we’ve been the Church of the Poor for a century!”
“Four centuries, more likely, Monsignor—ever since Calvin lured the bourgeoisie away from us.”
“We’ve as many Catholics as we had in 1390,” Brother Anson maintained stoutly.
“Yes, that was right after the Black Death, wasn’t it? And the population of the world’s grown a bit since then. I hate to be a naysayer, Brother Anson, but we’ve only a tenth as many of the faithful as we had in 1960. And from the attraction Reverend Sun is showing, we’ll be lucky if we have a tenth of that by the end of the year.”
“We’ve a crisis in cameras at the moment,” the Monsignor reminded. “Could you refrain from discussing the Crisis of Faith until the cameras are fixed?”
“Oh, they’re working—now.” Father Vidicon threw the capping switch and shoved himself away from the camera control unit. “They’ll work excellently for you now, Monsignor, until you start recording. Monsignor reddened. “And why should they break down then?”
“Because that’s when you’ll need them most.” Father Vidicon grinned. “Television equipment is subject to Murphy’s Law, Monsignor.”
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“I wish you were a bit less concerned with Murphy’s Law, and a bit more with Christ’s!”
Father Vidicon shrugged. “If it suits the Lord’s purpose to give authority over entropy into the hands of the Imp of the Perverse, who am I to question Him?”
“For the sake of Heaven, Father,
“The term is confusing today, of course; ‘television’ was like 3DT, but with a flat picture; 3DT was originally an abbreviation for ‘three-dimensional television.’ Yes, this was quite a few centuries ago—the Year of Our Lord 2020.
“Well. Father Vidicon was sad to leave-off teaching, but he was overjoyed at actually being able to work with television equipment again… and he didn’t let his nearness to the Pope dampen his enthusiasm; he still insisted on referring to the Creator as ‘the Cosmic Cathode…’ ”
“Praise God, from Whom electrons flow!
Praise Him, the Source of all we know!
Page 33
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Whose order’s in the stellar host!
For in machines, He is the Ghost!”
“Father Vidicon,” Monsignor reproved, “that air has a blasphemous ring.”
“Merely irreverent, Monsignor.” Father Vidicon peered at the oscilloscope and adjusted the pedestal on Camera Two. “But then, you’re a Dominican.”
“And what is thatsupposed to mean?”
“Simply that what you hear may not be what I said.” Father Vidicon leaned over to the switcher and punched up color bars.
“He has a point.” Brother Anson looked up from the TBC circuit board he was diagnosing. “ Ithought it quite reverent.”
“You would; it was sung.” Monsignor knew that Brother Anson was a Franciscan. “How much longer must I delay my rehearsal, Father Vidicon? I’ve an Archbishop and two Cardinals waiting!”
“You can begin when the camera tube decides to work, Monsignor.” Father Vidicon punched up Camera Two again, satisfied that the oscilloscope wasreading correctly. “If you insist on bringing in Cardinals, you must be prepared for a breakdown.”
“I really don’t see why a red cassock would cause so much trouble,” Monsignor grumbled.
“You wouldn’t; you’re a director. But these old plumbicon tubes just don’t like red.” Father Vidicon adjusted the chrominance. “Of course, if you could talk His Holiness into affording a few digital-plate cameras…”
“Father Vidicon, you know what they cost! And we’ve been the Church of the Poor for a century!”
“Four centuries, more likely, Monsignor—ever since Calvin lured the bourgeoisie away from us.”
“We’ve as many Catholics as we had in 1390,” Brother Anson maintained stoutly.
“Yes, that was right after the Black Death, wasn’t it? And the population of the world’s grown a bit since then. I hate to be a naysayer, Brother Anson, but we’ve only a tenth as many of the faithful as we had in 1960. And from the attraction Reverend Sun is showing, we’ll be lucky if we have a tenth of that by the end of the year.”
“We’ve a crisis in cameras at the moment,” the Monsignor reminded. “Could you refrain from discussing the Crisis of Faith until the cameras are fixed?”
“Oh, they’re working—now.” Father Vidicon threw the capping switch and shoved himself away from the camera control unit. “They’ll work excellently for you now, Monsignor, until you start recording. Monsignor reddened. “And why should they break down then?”
“Because that’s when you’ll need them most.” Father Vidicon grinned. “Television equipment is subject to Murphy’s Law, Monsignor.”
Page 34
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“I wish you were a bit less concerned with Murphy’s Law, and a bit more with Christ’s!”
Father Vidicon shrugged. “If it suits the Lord’s purpose to give authority over entropy into the hands of the Imp of the Perverse, who am I to question Him?”
“For the sake of Heaven, Father,
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