"Деннис Уитли. The Devil Rides Out (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

The swastika is the oldest symbol of wisdom and right thinking in
the world. It has been used by every race and in every country at
some time or other. You might just as well regard the Cross as
purely Christian, when we all know it was venerated in early Egypt,
thousands of years before the birth of Christ. The Nazis have only
adopted the swastika because it is supposed to be of Aryan origin
and part of their programme aims at welding together a large section
of the Aryan race. The vast majority of them have no conception of
its esoteric significance and even if they bring discredit upon it,
as the Spanish Inquisition did upon the Cross, that could have no
effect upon its true meaning.'
'Yes, I get that, though I doubt if it'll make any difference to
Simon's resentment when he finds it round his neck tomorrow. Still,
that's a minor point. What worries me is this whole box of tricks
this evening. I've got a feeling you ought to be locked up as
downright insane, unless it's me.'
De Richleau smiled. 'A strange business to be happening in modern
London, isn't it? But let's mix a drink and talk it over quietly.'
'Strange! Why, if it were true it would be utterly fantastic, but
it's not. All this hooha about Black Magic and talking hocus-pocus
while you hang silly charms round Simon's neck is utter bunk.'
'It is?' The Duke smiled again as he tipped a lump of ice into
Rex's glass and handed it to him. 'Well, let's hear your explanation
of Simon's queer behaviour. I suppose you do consider that it is
queer by the way?'
'Of course, but nothing like as queer as you're trying to make
out. As I see it Simon's taken up spiritualism or something of the
kind and plenty of normal earnest people believe in that, but you
know what he is when he gets keen on a thing, everything else goes
to,, the wall and that's why he has neglected you a bit.
'Then this evening he was probably sick as mud to miss our
dinner, but had a seance all fixed that he couldn't shelve at the
last moment. We butt in on his party, and naturally he doesn't care
to admit what he's up to entertaining all those queer, odd-looking
women and men, so he spins a yarn about it being an astronomical
society. So you-who've read a sight too many books-and seem to have
stored up all the old wives' tales your nurse told you in your
cradle-get a bee in your bonnet and slog the poor mut under the
jaw.'
De Richleau nodded. 'I can hardly expect you to see it any other
way at the moment, but let's start at the beginning. Do you agree
that after knocking him out I called into play a supernormal power
in order to send him cheerfully off to bed without a single
protest?'
'Yes, even the doctors admit hypnotic influence now, and Simon
would never have stood for you tying that swastika under his chin if
he'd been conscious.'
'Good. Then at least we are at one on the fact that certain
forces can be called into play which the average person does not
understand. Now, if instead of practising that comparatively simple