"Heinlein, Robert A - Magic Inc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

C:\MYDOCU~1\tmpMAGIC INC.HTM
by Robert Heinlein
Version 1.0
MAGIC, INC


'Whose spells are you using, buddy?' That was the first thing this bird said
after coming into my place of business, He had hung around maybe twenty minutes,
until I was alone, looking at samples of waterproof pigment, fiddling with
plumbing catalogues, and monkeying with the hardware display. I didn't like his
manner. I don't mind a legitimate business inquiry from a customer_ but I resent
gratuitus snooping.
Various of the local licensed practitioners of thaumaturgy,' I told him in a
tone that was chilly but polite. Why do you ask?'
You didn't answer my question,' he pointed out. Come on - speak up. I ain't got
all day.'
I restrained myself. I require my clerks to he polite, and, while I was pretty
sure this chap would never be a customer, I didn't want to break my own rules.
If you are thinking of buying anything,' I said, I will be happy to tell you
what magic, if any, is used in producing it, and who the magician is.
Now you're not being cooperative,' he complained. We like for people to be
cooperative. You never can tell what bad luck you may run into not cooperating.'

Who d'you mean by we, I snapped, dropping all pretence of politeness, and what
do you mean by bad luck?'
'Now we're getting somewhere,' he said with a nasty grin, and settled himself on
the edge of the counter so that he breathed into my face He was short and
swarthy - Sicilian, I judged and dressed in a suit that was overtailered. His
clothes and haberdashery matched perfectly in a color scheme that I didn't like.
'I'll tell you what I mean by "we"; I'm a field representatve for an
organisation that protects people. from bad luck - if they're smart, and
cooperative. That's why I asked you whose charms you're usin'. Some of the
magicians around here aren't cooperative; it spoils their luck, and that bad
luck follows their products.
'Go on.' I said. I wanted him to commit himself as far as he would.
I knew you were smart,' he answered. F'rinstance - how would you like for a
salamander to get loose in your shop, setting fire to your goods and maybe
scaring your customers? Or you sell the materials to build a house, and it turns
out there's a Poltergeist living in it, breaking the dishes and souring the milk
and kicking the furniture around. That's what can come of dealing with the wrong
magicians. A little of that and your business is ruined. We wouldn't want that
to happen, would we?' He favoured me with another leer.
I said nothing; he went on, Now, we maintain a staff of the finest demonologists
in the business, expert magicians themselves, who can report on how a magician
conducts himself in the Half World, and whether or not he's likely to bring his
clients bad luck. Then we advise our clients whom to deal with, and keep them
from having bad luck. See?'
I saw all right. I wasn't born yesterday. The magicians I dealt with were local
men that I had known for years, men with established reputations both here and
in the Half World. They didn't do anything to stir up the elementals against