"Тед Чан. Seventy-Two Letters (72 буквы, Рассказ) (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автораwhere to begin listing the objections. A dancing bear would sooner perform
in the London Ballet." "If youТd care to develop an automaton that can dance the ballet, I would fully support such an enterprise. However, you cannot continue with these dexterous automata." "Pardon me, sir, but I am not bound by your decisions." "YouТll find it difficult to work without sculptorsТ cooperation. I shall recall Moore and forbid all the other journeymen from assisting you in any way with this project." Stratton was momentarily taken aback. "Your reaction is completely unwarranted." "I think it entirely appropriate." "In that case, I will work with sculptors at another manufactory." Willoughby frowned. "I will speak with the head of the Brotherhood of Sculptors, and recommend that he forbid all of our members from casting your automata." Stratton could feel his blood rising. "I will not be bullied," he said. "Do what you will, but you cannot prevent me from pursuing this." "I think our discussion is at an end." Willoughby strode to the door. "Good day to you, Mr. Stratton." "Good day to you," replied Stratton heatedly. * * * It was the following day, and Stratton was taking his midday stroll through the district of Lambeth, where Coade Manufactory was located. After a few blocks he stopped at a local market; sometimes among the baskets of writhing eels and blankets spread with cheap watchs were automatous dolls, and Stratton retained his boyhood fondness for seeing the latest designs. Today he noticed a new pair of boxing dolls, painted to look like an explorer and a savage. As he looked them over while, he could hear nostrum peddlers competing for the attention of a passerby with a runny nose. "I see your health amulet failed you, sir," said one man whose table was arrayed with small square tins. "Your remedy lies in the curative powers of magnetism, concentrated in Doctor SedgewickТs Polarising Tablets!" "Nonsense!" retorted an old woman. "What you need is tincture of mandrake, tried and true!" She held out a vial of clear liquid. "The dog wasnТt cold yet when this extract was prepared! ThereТs nothing more potent." Seeing no other new dolls, Stratton left the market and walked on, his thoughts returning to what Willoughby had said yesterday. Without the cooperation of the sculptorsТ trade- union, heТd have to resort to hiring independent sculptors. He hadnТt worked with such individuals before, and some investigation would be required: ostensibly they cast bodies only for use with public-domain names, but for certain individuals these activities disguised patent infringement and |
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