"Laura Resnick - The Fortunes of Temperance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Laura)

hassles of coping with djinns, renting them out on a temporary
need-a-wish-granted basis, satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Indeed,
when my potential partner in the deal came to me with the idea, I was
thunderstruck by its simple genius and wondered why no one has thought of this
before! Frankly, we'd be able to charge exorbitant prices, keeping a hefty




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commission for ourselves; for all of their faults, djinns would definitely
rather pay a big commission to an agent than simply be out of work.
However, while my partner would be in charge of the financial aspects
of the business, _I'd_ be in charge of the djinns, and I was alternately
intrigued by the challenges and worried about the potential problems of
managing them, dealing with their fragile egos, and also dealing with clients
whom they might (in a fit of mischief) insult, torment, cheat, or cast a spell
upon.
"The Nine of Whirligigs, the sixth card," said Madame Rabinowitz,
"represents your own hopes in the matter. You would like to see this become a
profitable venture, and you believe that it _can_ be -- as long as you're not
overwhelmed or sabotaged by opposing forces. The seventh card..." She paused
as she turned it over, "reveals the forces working against your hopes. Hmmmm.
The Ace of Phalluses." She met my gaze. "You perceive the potential of
conflict with a man."
Ah, yes, my partner in this potential deal: Pettifog Celestor. I didn't
know the man well. He had sought me out, since I have a good reputation and
the right qualifications for this opportunity. His credentials and references
all seemed to be in order, and he seemed to have the necessary financial
backing. Unfortunately, he was rather overbearing and, well, I just wasn't
sure what to make of him.
The eighth card, representing the opinions of my friends and relatives,
was the Supernova. No big surprise. They all thought I was nuts to consider
giving up a good job with great benefits (including full hex insurance) to
invest both time and money in a new, independent, experimental venture -- and
one dealing with djinns, at that!
"The tenth card, the final card," Madame Rabinowitz said, "represents
the forces which will operate in the near future, influencing the outcome of
events and working on your fears and hopes."
The tenth card in the spread, of course, would influence all of the
others. I watched tensely as she slowly turned it over.
"Oh, no!" I cried upon seeing it.
Even Madame Rabinowitz gasped. "_The Senator,"_ she whispered in
horror.
The cosmic warning couldn't possibly be any clearer. _The Senator_: a
self-serving, insincere man of low morals and no principles; a liar, a
trickster, an adulterer, and a thief; a despoiler of honest people and
pillager of communities.
"Madame Rabinowitz!" I cried. "Thank heavens I came to you in time!
Without your guidance, a terrible fate would have befallen me!"