"Jack Dann - The Diamond Pit" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dann Jack)

though he were someone who could afford to pamper himself and maintain his
youth.
I thought it odd that our jailer Mr. Jefferson used "y'all" like
someone from the Deep South, yet he had no accent at all -- which was probably
the same thing as having a midwest accent.
"Well, _I_ don't mind the caviar," said fat Snap Geraldson. "I guess
that makes me the only sophisticated guy down here." That got a laugh.
"Are you here to bait us like bears, or have you come up with a
solution to our problem?" asked Freeburg.
"Ah, Mr. Freeburg, you are always so angry and so ready to argue how
many angels might rest on the head of a pin. Aren't you satisfied with the
Talmud I provided for your studies?"
"I've simply taken the bait," Freeburg said.
"Well, good for you, then. But we've been over and over my predicament.
I -- being a man of conscience -- must bear the burden of keeping y'all in
prison because to free you would be harmful to my family and myself and my
retainers. You'll soon come to understand that, too, Mr. Orsatti."
I almost took a step back when he addressed me.
"I trust you're getting settled in comfortably," he continued. "The
other boys will show you the ropes. If anyone mistreats you, just slip a note
into the food slot. It'll reach me in due course. I've developed quite a
paternalistic affection for all of you. Quite."
"We'd promise not to peach on you," cried Carl Crocker. "And that's the
honest truth. Just let us go. Give us a chance."
"Ah, but you couldn't help yourself, could you, Mr. Crocker," Jefferson
said, as he pulled a lawn chair over for Phoebe and then disappeared for a few
seconds to return with a chair for himself. "You'd have to tell _some_one. And
if you could come back and get past my slaves and my guns, why then _you'd_ be
the richest man on Earth. Would you like me to send some more gems down to
you? You can have whatever you wish -- diamonds, rubies, sapphires, a
birthstone of your own weight."
"Won't do me any good down here," Carl said.
"Ah, you see, value is relative. But once you got away from here, these
diamonds and rubies and sapphires would be worth as much as life itself.
Surely you can see that?"
"No, I can't," said Carl.
"As I've asked you before, do you want me to have your wives and
girlfriends brought here? I'll extend your accommodations. Y'all would have
everything you could wish for."
"Except freedom," said Eddie Barthelmet. "What would it take to buy
that?"
"You can't _buy_ anything from me," said Mr. Jefferson. "All that I
give is as a gift. When last we spoke -- how long ago was that? Perhaps a few
months ago? -- I asked if you could come up with a better solution. Well, this
is your chance. Propose."
"So you can dispose," said Eddie.
"Very good, very good indeed. The newer members seem to be quicker than
the rest of you. You'll need to study to keep up."
"Then let us have some newspapers," shouted Crocker.
"Yeah, is prohibition repealed yet?"