"Bester, Alfred - Demolished Man, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bester Alfred)

me quick."
He glared in concentration at Tate while the elegant little peeper examined him
with a glittering eye and spoke in quick bursts: "You're Ben Reich of Monarch.
Ten billion credit firm. Think I should know you. I do. You're involved in a
death struggle with the D'Courtney Cartel. Right? You're savagely hostile toward
D'Courtney. Right? Offered merger this morning. Coded message: YYJI TTED RRCB
UUFE AALK QQBA. Offer refused. Right? In desperation you have resolved to---"
Tate broke off abruptly.
"Go ahead," Reich said.
"To murder Craye D'Courtney as the first step in taking over his cartel. You
want my help... Mr. Reich, this is ridiculous! If you keep on thinking like
this, I'll have to commit you. You know the law."
"Clever-up, Tate. You're going to help me break the law."
"No, Mr. Reich. I'm not in a position to help you."
"You say that? A 1st Class Esper? And I'm supposed to believe it? I'm supposed
to believe you're incapable of outwitting any man, any group, the whole world?"
Tate smiled. "Sugar for the fly," he said. "A characteristic device of---"
"Peep me," Reich interrupted. "It'll save time. Read what's in my mind. Your
gift. My resources. An unbeatable combination. My God! It's lucky for the world
I'm willing to stop at one murder. Together we could rape the universe."
"No," Tate said with decision. "This won't do. I'll have to commit you, Mr.
Reich."
"Wait. Want to find out what I'm offering you? Read me deeper. How much am I
willing to pay? What's my top limit?"
Tate closed his eyes. His mannequin face tightened painfully. Then his eyes
opened in surprise. "You can't be serious," he exclaimed.
"I am," Reich grunted. "And what's more, you know it's an offer in good faith,
don't you?"
Tate nodded slowly.
"And you're aware that Monarch plus D'Courtney can make the offer good."
"I almost believe you."
"You can believe me. I've been financing your League of Esper Patriots for five
years. If you've peeped me deep enough yon know why. I hate the damned Esper
Guild as much as you do. Guild ethics are bad for business... lousy for making
money. Your League is the organization that can break the Esper Guild some
day..."
"I've got all that," Tate said sharply.
"With Monarch and D'Courtney in my pocket I can do better than help your faction
break the Guild. I can make you President of a new Esper Guild for life. That's
an unconditional guarantee. You can't do it alone, but you can do it with me."
Tate closed his eyes and murmured: "There hasn't been a successful premeditated
murder in 79 years. Espers make it impossible to conceal intent before murder.
Or, if Espers have been evaded before the murder, they make it impossible to
conceal the guilt afterwards."
"Esper evidence isn't admitted in court."
"True, but once an Esper discovers guilt he can always uncover objective
evidence to support his peeping. Lincoln Powell, the Prefect of the Police
Psychotic Division, is deadly." Tate opened his eyes. "D'you want to forget this
conversation?"
"No," Reich growled. "Look it over with me first. Why have murders failed?