"Heinlein, Robert A - Magic, Inc (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

by Robert Heinlein
Version 1.1

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 gratuitous 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
overtailored. 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