"Mike Resnick - Tales Of The Galactic Midway - Alien-Tamer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

About five miles into the foothills the vehicle slowed down, and then turned onto a
side road. Another half mile found them before a large fenced area, and the Sabellian
punched out a combination on his dashboard's computer panel. A gate slid open, and
the vehicle proceeded up a long driveway to a large building which seemed to be
made out of some stucco-like substance.
“This is the place?” asked Monk.
“We have arrived,” responded the creature.
They clambered out of the vehicle and walked up the gently inclined ramp that led to
the front door of the building. Then the Sabellian punched out another combination on
a lock by the doorknob, the door slid soundlessly into a wall, and the two of them
walked inside.
The place reminded Monk of a zoo, rather than a holding area for the planet's largest
animal-exporting firm. There were cages set into all the walls, enclosed entirely in
hard plastic, and the polished floor had an antiseptic smell to it.
In the center of the building was a huge, two-story, barred cage—notencased in
plastic, and stinking of rotting fruit and fresh stool—that was filled with artificial
trees and various types of gymnastic equipment: swings, bars, even a set of rings.
Sitting with its back propped up against a tree was an animal that looked suspiciously
like Monk himself. A closer examination showed that the animal had a protruding
lower jaw, a sharply receding forehead, only four toes on each foot, and a little more
body hair—but the resemblance was uncanny.
“Shit!” said Monk.
“I beg your pardon,” said the batlike creature.
“That was an expletive, not a directive,” answered Monk with a wry smile. “Where'd
you get that thing?”
“In the jungles of our southern hemisphere,” came the reply. “They used to be quite
common, but they have been hunted almost to extinction. Though we feed them fruit,
they are omnivorous, and have been known to be quite dangerous on occasion.” He
paused. “Now you see why I viewed your appearance with some initial trepidation.”
Monk quickly scanned the other cages. There were seven more manlike animals
identical to the one in the middle of the room, and a number of smaller members of
the same general family.
“We got a little problem here,” he announced at last.
“I assure you they are quite trainable,” said his companion.
“I don't doubt it,” said Monk. “You got anything else?”
“I am afraid not. I understood that you needed a carnivore or omnivore of these
dimensions. Is there something wrong?”
“You might say so,” replied Monk. “I'm not collecting for a zoo. I need animals for a
carnival act, and to the average untrained eye, these animals could be my brothers.”
“I see,” said the Sabellian slowly.
“Well, thanks for your time,” said Monk. “And if it'll make you feel any better, your
looks scared me as much as mine scared you.”
“How very gratifying.”
“While we're on the subject, I don't suppose you have any carnivores that look like
you?”
The creature paused and stared at him for a long moment. “Just what is it that your
animals are expected to do?”
“Mostly look ferocious,” admitted Monk. “And I'll teach ‘em to do whatever tricks
they're capable of—jumping through hoops, that sort of thing.”
“How many worlds do you play in the course of a year?”