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

then I've had the field pretty much to myself.

I could not understand Joe Jedson's objection to reanimation. What
difference does it make?' I persisted. It's a dress, isn't it?'

Sure, it's a dress, hut it's not a new one. That style is registered
somewhere and doesn't belong to me. And even if it were one of my numbers
she had used, reanimation isn't what I'm after. I can make better
merchandise cheaper without it; otherwise I'd be using it now.'

The blonde girl came to, saw the dress, and said, Oh, Mr Jedson, did I do
it?'

He explained what had happened. Her face fell, and the dress melted away at
once. Don't you feel bad about it, kid,' he added, patting her on the
shoulder, you were tired. We'll try again tomorrow. I know you can do it
when you're not nervous and overwrought.'

She thanked him and left with the nurse. Feldstein was full of explanations,
but Jedson told him to forget it, and to have them all back there at the
same time tomorrow. When we were alone I told him what had happened to me.

He listened in silence, his face serious, except when I told him how I had
kidded my visitor into thinking I had second sight. That seemed to amuse
him.

You may wish that you really had it - second sight, I mean,' he said at
last, becoming solemn again. This is an unpleasant prospect. Have you
notified the Better Business Bureau?'

I told him I hadn't.

Very well then. I'll give them a ring and the Chamber of Commerce too. They
probably can't help much, but they are entitled to notification, so they can
be on the lookout for it.'

I asked him if he thought I ought to notify the police. He shook his head.
Not just yet. Nothing illegal has been done, and, anyhow, all the chief
could think of to cope with the situation would be to haul in all the
licensed magicians in town and sweat them. That wouldn't do any good, and
would just cause hard feeling to be directed against you by the legitimate
members of the profession. There isn't a chance in ten that the sorcerers
connected with this outfit are licensed to perform magic; they are almost
sure to be clandestine. If the police know about them, it's because they are
protected. If they don't know about them, then they probably can't help
you.'

What do you think I ought to do?'

Nothing just yet. Go home and sleep on it. This Charlie may be playing a