"Mike Resnick - Frankie the Spook" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

end of the bargain."
"Well, not officially."
"I wrote the book."
"You had to help me fulfill the _contract_," continued
Marvin. "Well, the contract now calls for another book."
"You mentioned nothing about a contract," protested Bacon.
"You asked me to write a book. I wrote it -- and with the absolute
brilliance of which only I am capable. My obligation to you is
finished."
"I was afraid you were going to become an attitude case,"
said Marvin with a sigh.
"And I was certain that you would break your word. It appears
that each of us shall have his expectations fulfilled," retorted
Bacon.
"Well," said Marvin with a sign of resignation, "it was
probably beyond you anyway."
"What was?"
"The book I signed for."
"Don't be insulting. If _Meter Maids in Bondage_ proves
anything, it proves that no form of erotica is beyond my talents
to attack and upgrade."
"Yeah, but this one's for his science fiction line."
"Science fiction?"
"Well, fantasy, anyway. It's an alternate universe story."
"What is an alternate universe?"
"One in which history happened differently," explained
Marvin. "It might be about a world in which Germany won World War
II, or where Shakespeare is credited with ghosting all _your_
writings."
"Where that toad ghosted _my_ work?" repeated Bacon
incredulously. "This really is too much to bear!" Suddenly he
stared intently at Marvin. "Is _that_ what you propose to write?"
"No."
"You're quite sure?"
"Quite."
Bacon glared at him distrustfully. "What _is_ the subject of
your book, then?"
"Well, I had heard you mention it, and it was the first thing
that popped into my mind, and--"
"What is it?"
"The life of King Henry IX."
"That's not _my_ idea, you fool!" snapped Bacon. "It's that
idiot Shakespeare's."
"Well, if you feel you can't handle it..."
"It's not that I _can't_, it's that I _won't_." Bacon was
absolutely motionless for a moment, his eyes fixed on some distant
point that only he could see. "For one thing, I'd have to write
Queen Elizabeth out of the history books." He paused, and then
snickered. "I never did like her very much anyway." He seemed lost
in contemplation for a long moment. "Actually, I could turn it out