"Ron Goulart - Cure For Baldness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Goulart Ron)

Roger frowned at the shadows. "You read about that in my mind, huh?"

"Right, nothing to it. Carny trick."

"And you say you could actually make sure that she --"

"Are we maybe talking a deal here, Rog?"

"Could you, and I don't mean to offend you, but could you call me Roger? Only
that putz Lex Tandem calls me --"

"Roger. You got it."

"The thing that occurs to me, Mr. Ford, is --"
"You can just call me Ford."

"I'm wondering, Ford, if this is one of those setups where I have to sell you
my
soul to get what I want. Or where I end up going off to elsewhere for all
eternity. If so, a new head of hair and a contract with Olive isn't worth --"

"Eternity's not all that long, but not to worry," said the demon amiably. "Let
me explain, Roger, what I have in mind. Oh, but first perhaps I ought to
decide
on a persona."

"Meaning what?"

"Right now I'm clouding your mind so you can't see me clearly," he explained.
"Normally I look like a cross between a cocker spaniel and a Komodo dragon."

"Cockers can be cute."

"Not when blended with a huge lizard. Anyway, Roger, if we're going to have
dealings, then eventually I'll need a human form. Lately I've been using an
appealing mix of Mickey Rooney and Harlan Ellison, but maybe there's --"

"Before we go into what you're going to look like," cut in Roger, "I want more
details about this deal you have in mind."

The chair ceased to rock. "I want twenty-five percent of your income."

"For the year?"

"Oh, no. For your entire lifetime."

"Twenty-five percent is kind of steep. Fifteen percent would be-"

"How many previous deals have you made with demons?"