"Ron Goulart - The Curse Of The Demon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Goulart Ron)

"Yeah, but why is my tenth-grade guidance counselor doing my housecleaning?"

"Someone most assuredly needs must tackle the chore, my lad. You have neglected
the task for many a --"

"I've been working on a new screenplay, which takes up most of my time." He got
up, finding that he was wobbly on his feet. "But the point is --why are you here
at all?"

"Because you set me free from the dread casket, wherein I was imprisoned for a
tediously lengthy stretch of time." Bismarck straightened up, still holding the
broom.

Dan sat down, eyeing him. "You were what was in that box?" He noticed now that
the inscribed casket was sitting on his lopsided coffee table, wide open and
empty.

"Imprisoned by a vicious spell put upon me by that dimwitted kinsman of your
slatternly mistress," he answered. "I have assumed this bland and more palatable
shape so as not to cause you unease."

"I was never, actually, that fond of Mr. Bismarck."

Bismarck carefully placed the broom against the wall. "You must take my word for
it, young master, that what you see before you is a more acceptable form than my
true one," he assured Dan. "Mortals, it has been my experience over the years,
do not, alas, take kindly to creatures who loom ten feet high and are encrusted
with large, scabby scales and happen to be sickly green in color. If, however,
you would prefer to continue our discourse with me in my true --"

"No, we can settle for Mr. Bismarck." He made another attempt to stand. "How'd
you know what he looked like?"

"Whilst you dozed, I shifted through your memories, which are, I might add, even
more disordered than your pigsty of a domicile."

"You can do that?"

"Obviously." Bismarck, his conservative gray necktie dangling, bent and began
stacking up scattered newspapers. "Is there any rational reason, my lad, for
keeping these fugitive periodicals about?"
"Well, I like to read the funnies a week at a time."

"I thought not." Bismarck pointed his left hand, palm up, at the gathered
papers.

The stack shimmered for a few bright seconds before disappearing completely.

Dan took a few careful steps away from where the newspapers had been. "Besides