"Karl Edward Wagner - Kane 07c - Deep in the Depths of the Acme Warehouse" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

DEEP IN THE DEPTHS OF THE ACME WAREHOUSE

I think I want to be raped,Ф Lucy touched her breast and said. She stretched slowly against the plastic lounge chair. Her sunscreen smelled hot and buttery. Her brain was clouded with sun and Сludes.
Lucy Minx tugged her thong straps further down her hips, exposing just the shaved beginnings of her mons. She turned her head and flipped up her mirror shades, flashing her wonderful Italian eyes.
УI think I want to be raped by you.Ф She slid back her sunglasses and shivered in the sun. Languidly she reached for her white wine spritzer, sipped from the straw.
Mina Rush chugged her beer. It was tepid and tasted like the plastic poolside cup. She glanced at Lucy, wondering: What next? Mina was wearing a black one-piece and wishing she had LucyТs figure and could get away with a chartreuse thong bikini.
УSay, what?Ф
A black man in a dark blue jumpsuit was pushing a red vacuum cleaner across the lighter blue poolside carpet. Mina stared at his crotch. Breeze fluttered across the pooi, whipping false waves through the chlorine-drugged surface. A slight bit of crumpled newspaper rolled against her bare feet. Mina picked it up. Elvis had been seen in Brazil. Elizabeth Taylor was pregnant by Prince Andrew. Rock Hudson was assassinated by the CIA. Plastic extrusions from flying saucers had raped a nun in France.
Lucy examined her straw, flicked it behind her shoulder, followed it with her cup. She had a luxuriant mass of black hair with a lazy natural curl, and she liked to toss it about for emphasis, just as she liked to flash her eyes. Tossing and flashing, she pulled and twisted bits of her bikini, fussed with her bag of things, and then she left for the shower.
During all this, Lucy said to Mina, УOr forget it.Ф
There was a dead thing in MinaТs beer cup. She said, УShit.Ф And then she repeated it, really meaning it this time. Lucy was a nut case, but Mina had dreamed about her too many times not to have scored. She knew that Lucy knew that she wanted her, and she knew that Lucy enjoyed this sense of control. Lucy might tease and flirt, but for Mina she never gave more than a mocking smile and a brief heartless kiss. УA prick-tease,Ф their drummer had once confided.
Mina Rush was a henna-head with expressive if narrow green eyes and a Prince Valiant haircut that did little to help her rather angular jaw. Her right upper front tooth had been broken when someone lobbed a
Jack DanielТs bottle early on in her career, and she flashed a neat gold cap with an inverted pentacle when she smiled. She had long legs, boyish hips, girlish breasts, and a bad attitude. She was maybe the finest white female blues singer since Janis Joplin, but she couldnТt hold a group together for more than one tour, and her next album was a year late.
On the edge of superstardom, Mina Rush made only three mistakes:
She had a weakness for cocaine, she had an obsession for Lucy Minx, and she had an encounter with Kane.
Something was blocking the sun. Already testy, Mina raised herself on her elbows and glared suddenly upward.
It was not as large as a refrigerator, but only just. He wore denim cutoffs, a black Hawaiian shirt with palm trees and dancing girls, and mirror shades. He was carrying two tall frosty glasses with tiny umbrellas on top and some opalescent liquid inside. The sign at the hotel pool gate commanded: No Glass.
УDrink this,Ф he said. УThereТs a bug in your beer.Ф
Mina accepted the glass automatically, and he reclined upon LucyТs vacated lounge chair. The plastic and aluminum creaked, but held. Mina wondered whether he would sink in the pool like a stone. The man seemed to be a solid block of muscle and bone, very roughly hewn, and was probably in his early thirties. He had a neat red beard, slicked-back red hair, and when he lifted his sunglasses the intensity of his cold blue eyes made her want to look away.
УIТm Kane,Ф he said. He raised his glass. УCheers.Ф
УThe Kane?Ф Mina sipped her drink. Her record company had just recently been acquired by something called Kane, Ltd. All Mina knew about it was that it wasnТt Japanese-owned, and no one knew much else about the firm that now held her contracts. Supposedly the head of the organization was enigmatic and unapproachable. Photos were rare, but Rolling Stone had described him as an NFL lineman turned outlaw biker. Mina thought about the foggy photographs she had seen. Yes, could be.
The drink tasted of licorice and took her breath away. УWhat is this?Ф УAbsinthe on the rocks,Ф said Kane. УNot on the bar list here.Ф
УIТd always thought absinthe was illegal. Even here in New Orleans.Ф Kane swirled his drink. УSo is cocaine, Mina. Will you drink up, or call for the police? Besides, a little tincture of wormwood is good for the soul. This bottle was laid down in 1837.Ф
УWhereТd you get a bottle?Ф Mina knew when she was being served up bulishit, and in this case she decided it was with a glass of Pernod or Herbsaint.
УConnections,Ф Kane told her. УYou can obtain anything if you have connections.Ф
Whatever it was, the drink had a kick to it. That plus the sun. Mina crunched a bit of ice. A small lizard crept out of the poolside shrubbery and warmed itself on the stone wall. Two children splashed about noisily in the shallow end of the pool. She could smell steaks broiling in the hotel restaurant. Lucy would be toweling off after her shower a few doors away. A sparrow was hopping along the terrace, looking for morsels.
Only now there was a shimmering haze to the air, sounds seemed too distant, and the world had moved light-years away. A crumpled pack of Camels drifted aimlessly across the patio. A radio played УRun AwayФ in the distance. But in the dream state, Kane remained.
УOf course,Ф Kane said, УI now hold all your contracts. Do you fancy another?Ф He held up his glass.
УAnother what?Ф Mina heard herself say.
A large black-gloved hand took her glass. Another glass took its place upon the poolside table. Mina saw a large person, wearing black biker leathers and mirror shades, longish black hair and black beard, black motorcycle boots. He hadnТt been there before.
УThank you, Blacklight,Ф said Kane, sipping a fresh drink. УWeТre just talking contract.Ф
УWhatТs that?Ф Mina wondered if she were the only one here without mirror shades.
УBlacklight sometimes helps me with negotiations. And I sense that you are not happy.Ф
УPersonal matters.Ф
УThe elusive Miss Lucy Minx?Ф
УIs she under contract, as well?Ф
УEventually, everyone is.Ф
УI want her.Ф
Kane considered his drink An admirable choice if dicey Anything may be obtained.Ф
The drink was making her giddy. Mina asked, УWhatТs the price? My soul?Ф
Kane seemed offended. УWorth nothing to me, Mina. All I want is your next album. The one thatТs so overdue. I think, once released, platinum in three weeks. IТll personally produce it for you.Ф
УSo. What have you ever done?Ф
УFar more than youТll ever live to guess.Ф
УYouТre most reassuring.Ф
УYou canТt do the album without Lucy. IТll give you Lucy. You give me the album. IТll even write some of your material. But weТll discuss this in good time.Ф
Blacklight had reappeared. Only the three of them seemed to be at poolside. He handed Kane a glass phial with a silver spoon attached. Kane with surprising delicacy snorted a spoonful of white powder paused and remarked: УNearly there, I think.Ф He then handed the phial to Mina. УYours to keep.Ф
Mina tasted a few spoonfuls. If it was coke, it was better than any sheТd ever had. Perks of being a rising star. She had another couple. Kane was watching her with more than casual interest. Mina tried to say something, then felt Kane inside her mind.
УMost interesting,Ф Kane said. УDid you know she has a thing about Elvis?Ф
УObviously.Ф
УSheТs a wicked twist.Ф