"L. Sprague De Camp - The Gnarly Man" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

"Yeah? Where's your commitment order? The only persons who can
apply for one are (a) close relatives and (b) public officials
charged with the maintenance of order. You're neither."
Dunbar continued stubbornly. "He ran amuck in my hospital and
nearly killed a couple of my men, you know. I guess that gives us
some rights."
"Sure," said Robinette. "You can step down to the nearest
station and swear out a warrant." He turned to the gnarly man. "Shall
we slap a civil suit on 'em, Gaffney?"
"I'm all right," said the individual, his speech returning to
its normal slowness. "I just want to make sure these guys don't
pester me anymore."
"Okay. Now listen, Dunbar. One hostile move out of you and
we'll have a warrant out for you for false arrest, assault and
battery, attempted kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and disorderly
conduct. We'll throw the book at you. And there'll be a s'uit for
damages for sundry torts, to wit, assault, deprivation of civil
rights, placing in jeopardy of life and limb, menace, and a few more
I may think of later."
"You'll never make that stick," snarled Dunbar. "We have all
the witnesses."
"Yeah? And wouldn't the great Evan Dunbar look sweet defending
such actions? Some of the ladies who gush over your books might
suspect that maybe you weren't such a damn knight in shining armor.
We can make a prize monkey of you, and you know it."
"You're destroying the possibility of a great scientific
discovery, you know, Robinette."
"To hell with that. My duty is to protect my client. Now beat
it, all of you, before I call a cop." His left hand moved
suggestively to the telephone.
Dunbar grasped at a last straw. "Hmm. Have you got a permit for
that gun?"
"Damn right. Want to see it?"
Dunbar sighed. "Never mind. You would have." His greatest
opportunity for fame was slipping out of his fingers. He drooped
toward the door.
The gnarly man spoke up. "If you don't mind, Dr. Dunbar. I left
my hat at your place. I wish you'd send it to Mr. Robinette here. I
have a hard time getting hats to fit me."
Dunbar looked at him silently and left with his cohorts.
The gnarly man was giving the lawyer further details when the
telephone rang. Robinette answered: "Yes . . . Saddler? Yes, he's
here
- Your Dr. Dunbar was going to murder him so he could dissect
him . . . Okay." He turned to the gnarly man. "Your friend Dr.
Saddler is looking for you. She's on her way up here."
"Herakles!" said Gaffney. "I'm going."
"Don't you want to see her? She was phoning from around the
corner. If you go out now you'll run into her. How did she know where
to call?"