"Dunsany, Lord - Golden Doom, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dunsany Lord)

Girl:
That man frightens me.

Boy:
He is only one of the King's spies.

Girl:
But I don't like the King's spies. They frighten me.

Boy:
Come on, then, we'll run away.

Sentry: {noticing the children again}
Go away, go away! The King is coming, he will eat you.

{The Boy throws a stone at the Sentry and runs out.
Enter another Spy, who notices the door. He examines
it and utters an owl-like whistle. No. 2 comes back.
They do not speak. Both whistle. No. 3 comes. All
examine the door. Enter the King and his Chamberlain.
The King wears a purple robe. The Sentries smartly
transfer their spears to their left hands and return
their right arms to their right sides. They then lower
their spears until their points are within an inch of
the ground, at the same time raising their right hands
above their heads. They stand for some moments thus.
Then they lower their right arms to their right sides,
at the same time raising their spears. In the next
motion they take their spears into their right hands
and lower the butts to the floor, where they were
before, the spears slanting forward a little. Both
Sentries must move together precisely.}

First Spy: {runs forward to the King and kneels, abasing his
forehead to the floor} Something has written on the
iron door.

Chamberlain:
On the iron door!

King:
Some fool has done it. Who has been here since
yesterday?

First Sentry: {shifts his hand a little higher on his spear,
brings the spear to his side and closes his heels all
in one motion; he then takes one pace backward with his
right foot; then he kneels on his right knee; when he
has done these he speaks, but not before}
Nobody, Majesty, but a stranger from Thessaly.