"Bester, Alfred - Hell Is Forever" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bester Alfred)

He remained on his knees, drinking in the moment of death. The others clustered around the toadlike body, staring with distended nostrils. The moment hardly lasted, then the languor of infinite boredom again shaded across their features.
The black Thing waved its arms a few times. The costume split at last to reveal a complicated framework and the sweating, bearded face of Robert Peel. He dropped the costume around him, stepped out of it, and went to the figure in the chair.
УThe dummy idea was perfect,Ф he said. His bright little eyes glittered momentarily. He looked like a sadistic miniature of Edward VII. УSheТd never have believed it if we hadnТt arranged for a se~venth unknown to enter the scene.Ф He glanced at his wife. УThat slap was a stroke of genius, Sidra. Wonderful realismЧТТ
ССI meant it.ТТ
УI know you did, dearly beloved, but thanks nevertheless.Ф
Theone Dubedat had risen and gotten into a white dressing gown. She stepped down and walked over to the body, removing the hideous devilТs mask. It revealed a beautifully chiseled face, frigid and lovely. Her blond hair gleamed in the darkness.
Braugh said: УYour acting was superb, TheoneЧФ He bobbed his white albino head appreciatively.
For a time she didnТt answer. She stood staring down at the shapeless mound of flesh, an expression of hopeless longing on her face; but there was nothing more to her gazing than the impersonal curiosity of a bystander watching a window chef. Less.
At last Theone sighed. She said: УSo it wasnТt worth it, after all.Ф
УWhat?Ф Braugh groped for a cigarette.
УThe actingЧthe whole performance. WeТve been let down again, Chris.Ф
Braugh scratched a match. The orange flame flared, flickering across their disappointed faces. He lit his cigarette, then held the flame high and looked at them. The illumination twisted their features into caricatures, emphasizing their weariness, their infinite boredom. Braugh said: УMy-myЧФ
УItТs no use, Chris. This whole murder was a bust. It was about as exciting as a glass of water.Ф
Finchley hunched his shoulders and paced up and back of the shelter like a bundle of stilts. He said: УI got a bit of a kick when I thought she suspected. It didnТt last long, though.Ф
УYou ought to be grateful for even that.Ф
ССI am.ТТ
Peel clucked his tongue in exasperation, then knelt like a bearded humptydumpty, his bald head gleaming, and raked in the contents of Lady SuttonТs scattered purse. The banknotes he folded and put in his pocket. He took the fat dead hand and lifted it slightly toward Theone. УYou always admired her sapphire, Theone. Want it?Ф
УYou couldnТt get it off, Bob.Ф
УI think I could,Ф he said, pulling strenuously.
УOh, to hell with the sapphire.Ф
УNo-itТs coming.Ф
The ring slipped forward, then caught in the folds of flesh at the knuckle. Peel took a fresh grip and tugged and twisted. There was a sucking, yielding sound and the entire finger tore away from the hand. The dull odor of putrefaction struck their nostrils as they looked on with vague curiosity.
Peel shrugged and dropped the finger. He arose, dusting his hands slightly. УShe rots fast,Ф he said. УPeculiarЧФ
Braugh wrinkled his nose and said: УShe was too fat.Ф
Theone turned away in sudden frantic desperation, her hands clasping her elbows. УWhat are we going to do?Ф she cried. УWhat? IsnТt there a sensation left on earth we havenТt tried?Ф
With a dry whir the china clock began quick chimes. Midnight.
Finchley said: УWe might go back to drugs.Ф
УTheyТre as futile as this paltry murder.Ф
УBut there are other sensations. New ones.Ф
УName one!Ф Theone said in exasperation. УOnly one!Ф УI could name severalЧif youТll have a seat and permit meЧФ Suddenly Theone interrupted: УThatТs you speaking, isnТt it, Dig?Ф In a peculiar voice Finchley answered: УN~no. I thought it was Chris.Ф Braugh said: УWasnТt me.Ф
УYou, Bob?Ф
СNo.
УTh-thenЧФ
The small voice said: УIf the ladies and gentlemen would be kind enough toЧФ It came from the stage. There was something thereЧsomething that spoke in
that quiet, gentle voice; for Merlin was stalking back and forth, arching his high black back against an invisible leg.
УЧto sit down,Ф the voice continued persuasively.
Braugh had the most courage. He moved to the stage with slow, steady steps, the cigarette hanging firmly from his lips. He leaned across the apron and peered. For a while his eyes examined the stage, then he let a spume of smoke jet from his nostrils and called: УThereТs nothing here.Ф
And at that moment the blue smoke swirled under the lights and swept around a figure of emptiness. It was no more than a glimpse of an outlineЧof a negative, but it was enough to make Braugh cry out and leap back. The others turned sick, too, and staggered to chairs.
УSo sorry,Ф said the quiet voice. УIt wonТt happen again.Ф
Peel gathered himself and said: УMerely for the sake ofЧФ
УYes?ТТ
He tried to freeze his jerking features. УMerely for the sake of s-scientific curiosity itЧФ
УCalm yourself, my friend.Ф
УThe ritual . . . it did w-work?Ф
УOf course not. My friends, there is no need to call us with such fantastic ceremony. If you really want us, we come.Ф
УAnd you?Ф
УI? Oh... I know you have been thinking of me for some time. Tonight you wanted meЧreally wanted me, and I came.Ф
The last of the cigarette smoke convulsed violently as that terrible figure of emptiness seemed to stoop and at last seat itself casually at the edge of the stage. The cat hesitated and then began rolling its head with little mews of pleasure as something fondled it.
Still striving desperately to control himself, Peel said: УBut all those ceremonies and rituals that have been handed downЧФ
УMerely symbolic, Mr. Peel.Ф Peel started at the sound of his name. УYou have read, no doubt, that we do not appear unless a certain ritual is performed, and only if it is letter-perfect. That is not true, of course. We appear if the invitation is sincereЧand only thenЧwith or without ceremony.Ф