"Robert A. Heinlein - Magic, Inc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

he was all right.

This ten-percenter was clutching a cigar that had gone out, and watching
intently Jedson and another party, who was slumped in a chair.

This other party was a girl, not over twenty-five, maybe not that old. She
was blonde, and thin to the point that you felt that light would shine
through her. She had big, sensitive hands with long fingers, and a big,
tragic mouth. Her hair was silver-white, but she was not an albino. She lay
back in the chair, awake but apparently done in. The nurse was chafing her
wrists.

What's up?' I asked. The kid faint?'

Oh no,' Jedson assured me, turning around. She's a white witch - works in a
trance. She's a little tired now, that's all.'

What's her speciality?' I inquired.

Whole garments.'

Huh?' I had a right to be surprised. It's one thing to create yard goods;
another thing entirely to turn out a dress, or a suit, all finished and
ready to wear. Jedson produccd and merchandised a full line of garments in
which magic was used throughout. They were mostly sportswear, novelty goods,
ladies' fashions, and the like, in which style, rather than wearing
qualities, was the determining factor. Usually they were marked One Season
Only', but they were perfectly satisfactory for that one season, being
backed up by the consumers' groups.

But they were not turned out in one process. The yard goods involved were
made first, usually by Welker. Dyes and designs were added separately.
Jedson had some very good connexions among the Little People, and could
obtain shades and patterns from the Half World that were exclusive with him.
He used both the old methods and magic in assembling garments, and employed
some of the most talented artists in the business. Several of his dress
designers free-lanced their magic in Hollywood under an arrangement with
him. All he asked for was screen credit.
But to get back to the blonde girl- That's what I said,' Jedson answered,
whole garments, with good wearing qualities too. There's no doubt that she
is the real McCoy; she was under contract to a textile factory in Jersey
City. But I'd give a thousand dollars to see her do that whole-garment stunt
of hers just once. We haven't had any luck, though I've tried everything but
red-hot pincers.'

The kid looked alarmed at this, and the nurse looked indignant. Feldstein
started to expostulate, but Jedson cut him short. That was just a figure of
speech; you know I don't hold with black magic. Look, darling,' he went on,
turning back to the girl, do you feel like trying again?' She nodded, and he
added, All right - sleepy time now!'