"James Morrow - Director's Cut" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrow James)

MOSES. (nodding) The Lord giving my sister leprosy, causing the earth to
swallow up Dathan, striking down the Israelites who disparaged Canaan,
firebombing the ones who complained at Hormah, sending serpents against those
who grumbled on the road from Mount Hot, visiting a plague on everybody who
backslid at Peor . . .

INTERVIEWER. Damn theater chains. They think they own the world.

MOSES. I especially hated to lose that stirring speech I made to my generals
following the subjugation of the Midianires.

INTERVIEWER. Would you like to deliver it now, for the record?

MOSES. Sure would, Marty. Ready? Here goes. Numbers 31:15-18. (clears
throat) тАЬWhy have you spared the life of all the women? These were the very ones
who perverted the sons of Israel! Kill all the male children! Kill also all the women
who have slept with a man! Spare the lives only of the young gifts who have not
slept with a man, and take them for yourselves!тАЭ

INTERVIEWER. Do you suppose weтАЩll ever see the version of The Ten
Commandments that Mr. DeMilie intended?

MOSES. Only yesterday I was talking to some nice folks down at the National
Endowment for the Arts. TheyтАЩre willing to kick in three million for a restoration.

INTERVIEWER. A worthy cause.
 MOSES. The worthiest, Marty. Believe me, thereтАЩs justice in this old world.
You simply have to wait for it.

Curtain.

****

James MorrowтАЩs most recent novel, Only Begotten Daughter, won the World
Fantasy Award for best novel. He has also won two Nebulas for his short fiction,
most recently in 1993 for his novella, City of Truth. HBJ will publish his next novel,
Towing Jehovah sometime this spring..