"Gordon R. Dickson - Alien Art" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

but I can't and my buyers wouldn't. They'd see them just as rocks-rocks
that had been carved, maybe, but not into anything recognizable."


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"Mister, I told you what they were-each one."

"I'm sorry. Maybe it's because I don't know the originals they were
carved to look like-the fool hen, or whatever," said Lige. "But neither
would the people who buy from me. Try to understand, Mister Longan. For
me to buy it, your friend would have to make a carving of something I
could recognize as a carving." Cary's face lit.

"Like a man?" he said. "How about a carving like a man?"

"Yes," said Lige. "That's a very good example. Now, if Charlie had
carved something in the shape of a man-" "He did! He carved me, mister,
long gun and all. Full size. It even looks like me. You'll buy that?"
Lige sighed, aloud this time. "Well," he said. "I'll look at it. Bring
it in." Cary looked anxious.

"Can't hardly do that. It's pretty heavy, being full size. Maybe you'd
come look at it. It's just a couple hours' fly inland."

Lige shook his head with a touch of relief.

"I'm sorry," he said. He got to his feet and started putting the stones
back into their box. "I'm leaving this afternoon for a couple of stops
on the other habitated world in this solar system of yours."

The look on the woodsman's face made him add, rashly:

"I'll be back in ten days to pick up handicraft on your Voting Day from
the people coming in. If you could have it here then, I could look at
it."

"How much?" The words trembled on Cary's lips. "What price might you pay
for something like that?"

"Impossible to tell." Lige hefted the heavy box and passed it into
Cary's uneager grasp. He spoke briskly. "It could be anything. Two
cents, or two thousand interworld units. We buy outright or sell for you
on consignment, expenses plus a forty percent commission. Now, I've got
to get at my packing-"

"One thing, mister," said Cary, resisting the slight pressure with which
Lige urged him and his box toward the door, "I had to borrow money for