"Asimov, Isaac - Magical Wishes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

"There he is," said Herbert White, as the gate banged to
loudly and heavy footsteps came toward the door.

The old man rose with hospitable haste, and opening the
door, was heard condoling with the new arrival. The new
arrival also condoled with himself, so that Mrs. White said,
"Tut tut!" and coughed gently as her husband entered the
room, followed by a tall, burly man, beady of eye and
rubicund of visage.

"Sergeant-Major Moms,*' he said, introducing him.

The sergeant-major shook hands, and taking the proffered
seat by the fire, watched contentedly while his host got out
whisky and tumblers and stood a small copper kettle on the
fire.

At the third glass his eyes got brighter, and he began to
talk, the little family circle regarding with eager interest this
visitor from distant parts, as he squared his broad shoulders in
the chair, and spoke of wild scenes and doughty deeds; of
wars and plagues, and strange peoples.

"Twenty-one years of it," said Mr. White, nodding at his
wife and son. "When he went away he was a slip of a youth
in the warehouse. Now look at him."

"He don't look to have taken much harm," said Mrs.
White politely.

"I'd like to go to India myself," said the old man, "just to
look around a bit, you know."

"Better where you are," said the sergeant-major, shaking
his head. He put down the empty glass, and sighing softly,
shook it again.

"1 should like to see those old temples and fakirs and
jugglers," said the old man. "What was that you started
telling me the other day about a monkey's paw or something,
Morris?"

"Nothing," said the soldier hastily. "Leastways nothing
worth hearing."

"Monkey's paw?" said Mrs. White curiously-

"Wetl, it's just a bit of what you might call magic, per-
haps," said the sergeant-major off-handedly.