Обряд на крови

"Okay," Kincaid said. "Anyone have any questions?"
"Why do they sell hot dogs in packages of ten but hot dog buns in packages of eight?" I said.

"Look, a ritual spell like that doesn't have anything to do with you. It's like a cosmic vending machine. You put two quarters in, push the right button, and the curse comes flying out, courtesy of some psychotic otherworldly force that enjoys this kind of thing. It doesn't take skill. It doesn't take talent. You could be a freaking monkey and invoke that curse just as well".

Однако, я заметил уже, что люди имеют обыкновение вести себя самым дурацким образом, когда речь идет об их семейных делах, как-то разом утрачивают способность отличать здравый смысл от полнейшего безумия. Я называю это семейным помрачением.

   – Нет лести убедительнее пистолета, нацеленного тебе в лоб.

"I hadn't heard there was any action this summer."
"I have a life, man. And my life isn't all about feuding demigods and nations at war and solving a mystery before it kills me."
Thomas lifted an eyebrow. "It's also about mould demons and flaming monkey poo?"
"What can I say? I put the "ick" in "magic"."

"Jobs are a part of life. Maybe you've heard of the concept. It's called work? See, what happens is that you suffer through doing annoying and humiliating things until you get paid not enough money. Like those Japanese game shows, only without all the glory".

Laughter, like love, has power to survive the worst thing life has to offer. And to do it with style.

There's what's right," the old man said, "and then there's what's necessary. They ain't always the same."

"Harry, you saved the lives of some of their people." She shook her head. "In the business they're in, I doubt Chicago's fines are exactly making them feel live valued members of the community. That kind of isolation brings people together - and you helped them. Makes you one of them when trouble comes."
"Makes me family", I said.

Now that he wasn't threatening violence, I could see that this kid was a jewel. He could potentially provide some lucky wiseass with straight line for the rest of his natural life, and you can't put a price on that.