"Laurell K. Hamilton - A Clean Sweep" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

She blinked at him. "Well, no, but surely that doesn't happen all that often. In the meantime, couldn't you
help me, just this once?"

It was true that his archenemies had been lying low for a while. Work had been slow. He stared into her
tear-stained face and nodded. "All right, but only this once."

She hugged him, crumpling the bill of his mask. He pushed away from her, straightening his costume.
"That will not be necessary. I will get to work at once, if that is all right with you?"

"Oh, that's wonderful. I'll just go get dressed." She raced up the stairs, trailing some floral perfume behind
her.

Captain Housework sniffed. He preferred the cleaner scents of household air fresheners. Pine was his
favorite.

He sighed and walked into the living room. For a moment his heart beat faster; surely such destruction
could only be the work of the Dust Bunny Gang. Sofa cushions were scattered across the floor. A vase
had fallen on its side, spilling water. Dying flowers made a sodden mess on the grey carpet. The fireplace
was choked with ash and the partially burned carcass of a doll. Toys covered nearly every inch of the
floor.

Children. The only natural disaster that could rival Dr. Grime.

Perhaps children weren't as deadly, but they were just as messy.

This was the fifth time in a month that he had been called in and found no archvillain but only bad
housework. His name was being traded around like that of a good maid. He, Captain Housework, had
been reduced to drudgery.

He, who had fought the great dust invasion of '53, would have no problem with this mundane mess. His
superhuman speed would make short work of it all. But that wasn't the point. People did not call The
Purple Avenger to change a tire. They
called him to save their lives.

Once they had called Captain Housework for the same thing. Dr. Grime had nearly engulfed St. Louis in
a giant rain of grease. All cars, trains, and planes had come to a slippery halt. Pedestrians caught in the
first greasy rain had melted into puddles of sizzling goo. They had called for Captain Housework then,
and been glad to have him. But that had been ten years ago.

Dr. Grime had retired. The Dust Bunny Gang had split up over contractual differences. There just weren't
that many supervillains who specialized in true dirty work.

It wasn't really the mundane cleaning that bothered him. It was the repeat business. People had been
calling him back again
and again to clean up after them. He'd get a house spotless, perfect, and they'd mess it up again.

It was a never-ending drudgery. Even with superpowers over dust and dirt, he was tired of it. They were
taking advantage
of him. But without any supervillains to fight, a superhero had to fill some need. It was in his contract that
he had to be useful