"Mike Resnick - A Little Night Music" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

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A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

by Mike Resnick


The Beatles?
Yeah, I remember 'em. Especially the little one -- what was
his name? -- oh, yeah: Ringo.
The Stones? Sure I booked 'em. That Mick what's-his-name
was a strange one, let me tell you.
Kiss, Led Zepplin, the Who, Eddie and the Cruisers, I've
booked 'em all at one time or another.
After awhile, they all kind of fade together in your memory.
In fact, there's just one group that stands out. Strange, too,
since they never made any kind of a splash.
Ever hear of Vlad and the Impalers?
I didn't think so. Hell, there's no reason why you should
have. I never heard of 'em either, until Benny -- he's not exactly
my partner, but we kind of cooperate together from time to time --
calls me up one day and says he's picked up a group and do I have
any holes in the schedule? So I look at the calander, and I see a
couple of gigs that are open, and I say yeah, what the hell, send
their agent over and maybe we can do a little business. Benny says
they don't have an agent, that this guy Vlad handles all the
details himself. Now, if you've ever had to deal with one of these
jokers, you know why I wasn't exactly thrilled, but the lead
guitarist from this futuristic Buckets of Gor band has been hauled
in for possession and I don't see anyone racing to make his bale,
so I tell Benny I've got half an hour open at three in the
afternoon.
"No good, Murray," he says. "The guy's a late sleeper."
"Most guys in this business are," I say, "but three in the
afternoon is almost tomorrow."
"How's about you two have dinner together, maybe around seven
or so?" says Benny.
"Out of the question, baby," I answer. "I got a hot date, and
I just bought a new set of gold chains that figure to impress her
right into the sack."
"This Vlad guy don't like to be kept waiting," says Benny.
"Well, if he wants a booking, he can damn well _learn_ to
wait."
"Okay, okay, let me check his schedule," says Benny. He
pauses for a minute. "So how's three o'clock?"
"I thought you just said he couldn't make it at three."
"I mean three o'clock in the morning."
"What is this guy, an insomniac?" I ask. But then I remember