"Barker, Clive - Books of Blood 06" - читать интересную книгу автора (Barker Clive)

'How do you do it, Mr Swann?' Barbara Bernstein
was eager to know.
'It's magic,' Swann replied. He had invited her
backstage to examine the tiger's cage for any sign of
fakery in its construction; she had found none. She had
examined the swords: they were lethal. And the petals,
fragrant. Still she insisted:
'Yes, but really . . .' she leaned close to him. 'You can
tell me,' she said, 'I promise I won't breathe a word to a
soul.'
He returned her a slow smile in place of a reply.
'Oh, I know. . .'she said,'you're going to tell me that
you've signed some kind of oath.'
That's right,' Swann said.
'- And you're forbidden to give away any trade
secrets.'
'The intention is to give you pleasure,' he told her.
'Have I failed in that?'
'Oh no,' she replied, without a moment's hesitation.
'Everybody's talking about the show. You're the toast
of New York.'
'No,' he protested.
'Truly,' she said, 'I know people who would give their
eye-teeth to get into this theatre. And to have a guided
tour backstage . . . well, I'll be the envy of everybody.'
'I'm pleased,' he said, and touched her face. She had
clearly been anticipating such a move on his part. It
would be something else for her to boast of: her
seduction by the man critics had dubbed the Magus
of Manhattan.
'I'd like to make love to you,' he whispered to her.
'Here?' she said.
'No,' he told her. 'Not within ear-shot of the
tigers.'
She laughed. She preferred her lovers twenty years
Swann's junior - he looked, someone had observed,
like a man in mourning for his profile, but his touch
promised wit no boy could offer. She liked the tang of
dissolution she sensed beneath his gentlemanly fagade.
Swann was a dangerous man. If she turned him down
she might never find another.
'We could go to a hotel,' she suggested.
'A hotel,' he said, 'is a good idea.'
A look of doubt had crossed her face.
'What about your wife . . .?' she said. 'We might be
seen.'
He took her hand. 'Shall we be invisible, then?'
Tm serious.'
'So am I,' he insisted. 'Take it from me; seeing is
not believing. I should know. It's the cornerstone of