"Mike Resnick - The Long and Short of It" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

"You must have been the brightest one in your class," said Mallory sardonically.

"That's it!" snapped Perriwinkle. "No more Rita Hayworth movies for you!"

"Is that a promise?" said Mallory.

"Bah!" said the mirror, reverting to the second inning of the baseball game in a grainy black and white.
"Are they still arguing?" asked Mallory.

Felina shook her head. "No, now they both agree that you'll die a horrible death before they have to pay
you." She shot him an innocent, ingratiating smile. "Can I watch?"

Mallory didn't know whether to ignore her or throw something at her. While he was making up his mind,
the door opened and a pair of men walked in. Each wore a dark, ill-fitting suit; one was too tight and the
sleeves and cuffs were too short, while the other was too loose, with sleeves and cuffs held back by thick
rubber bands. The men were each about six feet tall, with wild black hair, clear blue eyes, and shaggy
mustaches. Mallory's first thought was that they were twins, or at least brothers. His second was that they
needed a good barber and a better haberdasher.

"Mr. Mallory?" said the one on the left.

"That's right."

"We are in desperate need of your services," said the one on the right. "Mallory and Carruthers is said to
be the best detective agency in all New York."

Mallory decided not to mention that it was the only one in New York, gestured for them to sit down, and
simply waited for them to explain the nature of their problem.

"Have you ever gone to the circus, Mr. Mallory?" asked the one on the left.

"Not since I was a kid."

"Then you probably don't remember us," said the one on the right.

"Probably not," agreed Mallory. "Are you jugglers?"

"Certainly not!" they said in unison.

"Trapeze artists?"

"No!"

"I could sit here guessing all night, or you could tell me and we could get on with the case," suggested
Mallory.

"Have you ever heard of Macro, the ten-foot-tall giant?" asked the one on the left.

"You?" asked Mallory.