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

to mankind, just as a supervillain had to harm mankind. If all the villains needing his special powers to
thwart them had retired, he had to answer the call of need.
Captain Housework sighed and waved a white-gloved hand. The sofa cushions danced back in place,
fluffing themselves before snuggling down. "I am a glorified maid," he said softly to the empty room.

The kitchen was the worst. Dishes were stacked nearly to the top of the windows, thick with grease and
moldy food. He conjured a super-scouring wind and cleaned them with the force of a hurricane without
cracking a dish.

When every room was spotless, he appeared before the woman who had summoned him. "The house is
clean, Madam."

"Oh, gee, thanks." She held out money.

Captain Housework stared at the offending hand. "I am a superhero, not a servant. I don't need your
money." His voice was very tight, each word bitten off.

"No offense, I'm just grateful."

"Be grateful and don't call me again."

"But I want you to come back after the party and clean up," she said.

"You what?"

"The maid can't come tonight at all. I thought you'd clean up after the party. The superhero hotline said
you would."

"They said I would?"

She nodded. "The operator on the hotline said you would be happy to be of service. She said something
about superheroes needing to be of service to mankind."

Captain Housework stared at the woman for a few heartbeats. He saw it all then, his future stretching out
before him. An eternity of cleaning up after parties, repairing the damage of crayon-wielding tots and
unhousebroken dogs. He saw it all in the blink of his sparkling eyes. It was intolerable, a hell on earth, but
the woman was right. A superhero had to serve mankind. If
all he was good for was maid service, then so be it.

The woman had been putting on red nail polish. She reached back to tighten the lid, but was unwilling to
grip it with her wet nails. The bottle went spinning. Bright red liquid poured out onto the white carpet,
trickled down the newly polished vanity.

"Oops," the woman said. "You'll get that, won't you? I've got to finish getting ready; the guests will be
here any minute." She stood, waving her nails to dry them. She left him staring at the spreading red stain
on the carpet he had just shampooed.

His tiny hands balled into fists. He stood trembling with rage, unable to utter a word. An eternity of
thisтАФit was intolerable!
But what else could he do? Talk Dr. Grime out of retirement? No, the villain had made millions off his