"Geoffrey A. Landis - Elemental (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Landis Geoffrey A)

the girl and grinned, "Say, you mind if I ask a dumb question? What's your
deep in conversation. "I'll need all the luck 1 can get."
In Italy it was early afternoon. The sun beat down warmly, as might be
expected on a day in early April. In the fields, two farmers stopped working
the rich volcanic soil to rest in the shade of a solar array. One of them
brought out .he midday snack of bread, wine, and cheese, while the other
hooked the tractors up to recharge.
"Explain once more to Giuseppe how it is that your vines produce so
bountifully this year."
"It is because of this amulet of my wife's mother." Luca held up a small piece
of carved volcanic rock suspended on a silver chain. Giuseppe looked at it
dubiously.
"That? It is no different than the one my wife wears about her neck to ward
off the evil eye. Yet my vines do not produce like yours."
"Ah," said Luca smugly, "wearing is not enough. You must know how to use it."
"Ah," said Giuseppe. "So tell me, how is it done, to use this thing?"
"And why is it I should say to you?"
"Come, Luca. Did we not grow up together? Are we not friends? How is it that
you would now hold out on your poor friend Giuseppe?" .
"Indeed," said the other, "I would not. This is what is to be done. Each
morning before going into the fields you must take the amulet and make with it
this gesture-" he demonstrated with his hands "-and say the following chant-"
he intoned a short series of nonsense-sounding syllables.
Giuseppe was still dubious. "That's all?"
"Indeed."
"It would be simple ,enough for me to try. Father Corsi would not approve,
though. He would call it witch work."
"There is no need for Father Corsi to know. Besides, he is surely aware of how
many of his flock wear charms against the evil eye, no`'"
"Yes. And he calls it idolatry, too."
"But he does not forbid it."
"This is true, he does not. But tell to me, how is it that you know this
thing?"
"My cousin Roberto, who was in the navy, learned it from a sailor who had a
brother who went to the university to learn science. This sailor knew many
things to do with such charms, but only the one of any usefulness."
"So," said Giuseppe. "This does not sound like the devil's work. Indeed, I
will do it. Perhaps my vines too will become as bountiful as yours."
"I wish you luck." Luca looked at his wristwatch. "Time now for us both to be
back to work." He walked over to his tractor. "Do you remember well the
gesture and the words?"
Giuseppe repeated the words, making the gesture Luca had shown. Luca nodded.
"Good. I wish you prosperity, my friend. "
"And you."
As Giuseppe drove the tractor that afternoon he repeated in his mind the words
and the gesture. If it worked he would show it to his brother-in-law, who also
grew a small plot of grapes behind his fields. And perhaps to his cousin
Rafaelle? Yes, he decided. Such
a useful thing should not be kept to oneself, but had to be shared with
others.