"Mike Resnick - A Miracle Of Rare Design" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

Lennox had been home for five weeks. He spent most of his time dictating to his computer and editing the
resultant manuscript. He left his house only for regular visits to the local hospital, where he pleased his
doctors with the speed of his recovery and mystified them by his refusal to use any of the prosthetic devices
they had given him except for one artificial eye.
He hired three nurses to serve eight-hour shifts, but within a month he no longer needed them, and replaced
them with a rotating series of тАЬpersonal companions", whose primary duties were to fix his meals, dress and
bathe him, and act as a first line of defense against unwanted visitors.
After he finished the first two chapters of his latest book, he transmitted them to his agent, Angela Stone, a
striking redhead who was also the second of his three ex-wives. He was not surprised when she showed up
on his doorstep ten days later; he instructed his companion of the moment to usher her into his paneled
study and then leave the two of them alone.
Angela, dressed in a business suit that seemed to change pastel shades as she moved, entered the room,
and Lennox stared admiringly at her out of his single eye.
тАЬYou know, you're still a damned fine-looking woman,тАЭ he said by way of greeting.
She stared at him without comment.
тАЬYou seem distrustful,тАЭ he observed.
тАЬI am.тАЭ
тАЬCan't I offer an honest compliment without you thinking I want something in return?тАЭ
тАЬYou never have before,тАЭ she replied, opening her briefcase. She withdrew a thick contract and tossed it onto
a table, then sat down across from Lennox.
тАЬHow am I expected to sign that?тАЭ he asked dryly.
тАЬIf you want the money, you'll find a way,тАЭ said Angela with no show of sympathy. тАЬYou've got a whole roomful
of prosthetics upstairs, Xavier. Playing the tragic hero may impress your adoring public, butI know better.тАЭ He
was about to answer but she held up a hand. тАЬIt's been five weeks now,тАЭ she continued. тАЬYou've already had
the press photograph you in this disgusting state, and I'm sure you've got an absolutely revolting portrait
ready for your dust jacket. Just out of curiosity, how much longer do you intend to act the crippled martyr
before you finally use your new hands and feet?тАЭ
тАЬAfter I make a couple of public appearances,тАЭ said Lennox. тАЬI'm giving a speech on Roosevelt III next week,
and another one on Sirius V the week after. I think my appearance will reinforce what I have to say.тАЭ
тАЬI doubt it,тАЭ replied Angela. тАЬThe critics are already having some difficulty deciding whether you want to be a
scholar or a sensationalist.тАЭ
тАЬWho says they have to be incompatible?тАЭ asked Lennox. тАЬOne pays for the other.тАЭ
тАЬThis is me you're talking to, Xavier,тАЭ she said. тАЬI lived with you for three years, remember?тАЭ
тАЬServes me right for marrying my agent,тАЭ he said wryly. тАЬYou made me rich, and then took half my money
when you left.тАЭ
тАЬYou're not an easy man to live with,тАЭ she noted. тАЬI earned every credit of it.тАЭ
тАЬSo did my other wives,тАЭ he replied with a rueful smile. тАЬThat's why I see nothing wrong with sensationalism.
I've got a lot of bills to pay, and you three ladies are sitting on all my ill-gotten gains.тАЭ
тАЬRubbish,тАЭ she said. тАЬIknow you, Xavier.тАЭ
тАЬWhat is that supposed to mean?тАЭ he asked.
тАЬI mean this has nothing to do with money.тАЭ She paused. тАЬI've read the chapters you sent me.тАЭ
тАЬHow did you like them?тАЭ
тАЬThey scared the hell out of me,тАЭ she replied honestly. тАЬThat's why I'm here.тАЭ
тАЬGood! I haven't lost my touch.тАЭ
тАЬThat's not what I mean,тАЭ she said. тАЬYou're going back, aren't you?тАЭ
тАЬBack?тАЭ he repeated.
тАЬTo Medina.тАЭ
тАЬAfter what they did to me?тАЭ he said. тАЬYou couldn't pay me enough to go back.тАЭ
тАЬYou don't do it for the money, Xavier,тАЭ replied Angela firmly. тАЬYou never did.тАЭ
тАЬThe hell I don't.тАЭ