"C M Kornbluth - Kazam Collects" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

"Lead on," said Fitzgerald. "After the past two weeks I can stand anything."



"Very well." Kazam turned out the desk lamp. "It glows," whispered Fitzgerald. He was referring to the
diamond, over whose surface was passing an eerie blue light, ike the invisible flame of anthracite. "I'd like
you to pray for success, Mr. Fitzgerald," said



Kazam. The detective began silently to go over his brief stock of prayers. He was barely conscious of
the fact that the other man was mumbling to himself and caressing the diamond with long, wiry fingers.
 The shine of the stone grew brighter yet; strangely, though, it did not pick out any of the details of the
room.



Then Kazam let out an ear-splitting howl. Fitzgerald winced, closing his eyes for just a moment. When
he opened them he began to curse in real earnest.



"You damned rotter!" he cried. "Taking me hereтАФ"



The Persian looked at him coldly and snapped: "Easy, man! This is realтАФlook around you!"



The detective looked around and saw that the tower of stone was rather far in the distance, farther than
in his dreams, usually. He stooped and picked Up a handful of the fine white desert sand, let it run
through his fingers.



"How did you get us here?" he asked hoarsely.



"Same way I cured you of Runi Sarif's curse. The diamond has rare powers to draw the attention. Ask
any jewel-thief. This one, being enormously expensive, is so completely engrossing that unsuspected
powers of concentration are released. That, combined with my own sound knowledge of a particular
traditional branch of psychology, was enough to break the walls down which held us pent to East 59th
Street"



The detective was beginning to laugh, flatly and hysterically. "I come to you hag-ridden, you first cure me
and then plunge me twice as deep into Hell, Kazam! What's the good of it?"