Going Postal полностью

‘That’s what I’d do,’ said Moist, ‘er… if I was that kind of person. It’s the oldest trick in the book. You get the punt— you get others so deeply involved that they don’t dare fold. It’s the dream, you see? They think if they stay in it’ll all work out. They daren’t think it’s all a dream. You use big words to tell them it’s going to be jam tomorrow and they hope . But they’ll never win. Part of them knows that, but the rest of them never listens to it. The house always wins.’

‘Why do people like Gilt get away with it?’

‘I just told you. It’s because people hope. They’ll believe that someone will sell them a real diamond for a dollar. Sorry.’

‘Do you know how I came to work for the Trust?’ said Miss Dearheart.

Because clay people are easier to deal with? Moist thought. They don’t cough when you talk to them? ‘No,’ he said.

‘I used to work in a bank in Sto Lat. The Cabbage Growers’ Co-operative—’

‘Oh, the one on the town square? With the carved cabbage over the door?’ said Moist, before he could stop himself.

‘You know it?’ she said.

‘Well, yes. I went past it, once… ’ Oh no, he thought, as his mind ran ahead of the conversation, oh, please, no …

‘It wasn’t a bad job,’ said Miss Dearheart. ‘In our office we had to inspect drafts and cheques. Looking for forgeries, you know? And one day I let four through. Four fakes! It cost the bank two thousand dollars. They were cash drafts, and the signatures were perfect. I got sacked for that. They said they had to do something, otherwise the customers would lose confidence. It’s not fun, having people think you might be a crook. And that’s what happens to people like us. People like Gilt always get away with it. Are you all right?’

‘Hmm?’ said Moist.

‘You look a bit… off colour.’

That had been a good day, Moist thought. At least, up until now it had been a good day. He’d been quite pleased with it at the time. You weren’t supposed ever to meet the people afterwards. Gods damn Mr Pump and his actuarial concept of murder!

He sighed. Oh well, it had come to this. He’d known it would. Him and Gilt, arm-wrestling to see who was the biggest bastard.

‘This is the country edition of the Times ,’ he said. ‘They don’t go to press with the city edition for another ninety minutes, in case of late-breaking news. I think I can wipe the smile off his face, at least.’

‘What are you going to do?’ said Miss Dearheart.

Moist adjusted the winged hat. ‘Attempt the impossible,’ he said.

It was the next morning.

Something prodded Moist.

He opened his eyes, and stared along the length of a shiny black cane, past the hand holding the silver Death’s head knob and into the face of Lord Vetinari. Behind him, the golem smouldered in the corner.

‘Pray, don’t get up,’ said the Patrician. ‘I expect you have had a busy night?’

‘Sorry, sir,’ said Moist, forcing himself upright. He’d fallen asleep at his desk again; his mouth tasted as though Tiddles had slept in it. Behind Vetinari’s head he could see Mr Groat and Stanley, peering anxiously round the door.

Lord Vetinari sat down opposite him, after dusting some ash off a chair.

‘You have read this morning’s Times ,’ he said.

‘I was there when it was printed, sir.’ Moist’s neck seemed to have developed extra bones. He tried to twist his head straight.

‘Ah, yes. Ankh-Morpork to Genua is about two thousand miles, Mr Lipwig. And you say you can get a message there faster than the clacks. You have issued that as a challenge. Most intriguing !

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Even the fastest coach takes almost two months, Mr Lipwig, and I’m given to understand that if you travelled non-stop your kidneys would be jolted out of your ears.’

‘Yes, sir. I know that,’ said Moist, yawning.

‘It would be cheating, you know, to use magic’

Moist yawned again. ‘I know that too, sir.’

‘Did you ask the Archchancellor of Unseen University before you suggested that he should devise the message for this curious race?’ Lord Vetinari demanded, unfolding the newspaper. Moist caught sight of the headlines:

THE RACE IS ON!

‘Flying Postman’ vs. Grand Trunk

‘No, my lord. I said the message should be prepared by a well-respected citizen of great probity, such as the Archchancellor, sir.’

‘Well, he’s hardly likely to say no now, is he?’ said Vetinari.

‘I’d like to think so, sir. Gilt won’t be able to bribe him, at least.’

‘Hmm.’ Vetinari tapped the floor once or twice with his cane. ‘Would it surprise you to know that the feeling in the city this morning is that you’ll win? The Trunk has never been out of commission for longer than a week, a clacks message can get to Genua in a few hours and yet, Mr Lipwig, people think you can do this. Don’t you find that amazing?’

‘Er… ’