"R. A. Lafferty - Stories 2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lafferty R A)

The three new men who came in had a certain animal power about them,
and a certain human authority. Possibly they might he important enough to
hold for hostages, but who was going to take the lead in holding them? Men,
they moved like big cats. But they were dressed like businessmen of an
earlier decade, an anomaly on the island, and they were lighter than any of
the islanders there except Lawrence Sky.
"You are the Mayor Johnjohn?" asked one of the new men. "And you
have authority to deal?"
"I am the mayor," said John, "and I have such authority as a
shackled prisoner may have, For what do we deal?"
"Oh, for the island. We've come to buy it. You'd like that, wouldn't
you?"
"What, what, who are you?"
"I am Adrian Sweetsong," said the first of the new men. "I'm a
petroleum geologist by profession, which has nothing to do with the matter.
And I'm an official of the Midlands Gun and Rod Club."
"I'm Dennis Halftown," said the second of the new men. "I'm an
electronic engineer by profession, which has nothing to do with the matter
either. And I'm also an official of the Midlands Gun and Rod Club."
"I'm Freddy Flatfish," said the third of the new men. "I'm a lawyer,
which does have something to do with this matter. I am also an official of
the Midlands Gun and Rod Club, and I have studied the legal aspects of this
thing pretty thoroughly."
"Is it the Midlands Gun and Rod Club that is dealing for the
island?" Mayor John asked.
"That's right," said Adrian Sweetsong, the first of the new men.
"First installment! Set em right there, boys."
Several of the colts, the strong rough island boys, set down two
heavy square boxes, and Dennis Halftown (the second of the new men) broke
them open with a pry.bar.
"Man-eating Millie! Those things are for me!" the Lob gasped, and
she had a couple of them out in her hands.
"Sweet little choppies!" the Sky drooled. "What's a knife along side
of one of those?"
"Black-berry pudding!" cried the Cloud as he returned from his
errand. "Here, here, they look good, let's get them tested. I'll just pass a
dozen of those out the windows to some of the boys. Let them try them out!
Let them fall in love with them!"
"Fifty hatchets," announced Adrian Sweetsong, "delivered and
accepted. We record them."
"Wait! Wait!" howled Mayor John jangling his shackles. "What have
fifty hatchets to do with dealing for the island? Who has used hatchets for
a century?"
"One-leg John," the Duke crooned, "too bad your shackles won't let
you get as far as the window. Some of the boys are using them now. Believe
me, John, they're using them now!"
"Mr. Sweetsong," Mayor John explained patiently, "the last valuation
of island property ever made set it at over a hundred billion dollars. Due
to certain developments, it may be down a little now, but not that far.
Hatchets will not get it. I can sell it only for Fair Value or Value