"Craig Shaw Gardner - Arabian 3 - The Last Arabian Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner Craig Shaw)

In a great fright, Shahryar pulled forth his own scimitar and separated
that laughing head from the beautiful body. But, once life left the body
before him, it no longer resembled the almost human consort of djinn,
nor was it the likeness of his unfaithful queen, but instead the body of
the beautiful young girl.

The king summoned his slaves and had the body quickly removed. At
first he had thought he was deluded by grief, but now believed he had
fallen victim to the vile magics of Sulima, the lustful woman who was
truly woman no more. This was a most disquieting turn of events, even
for one of such majestic demeanor as Shahryar.

But no king would admit defeat after but a single battle. He therefore
summoned again his faithful vizier and informed Aziz that there had
been an unfortunate accident, and the king was therefore no longer
among the married. But all was not amiss, for Shahryar believed that
this accident had done a great deal to clear certain difficulties from his
mind.

He therefore ordered Aziz to go forth on the morrow, so that the vizier
might find the king another marriageable girl. Shahryar would then be
married again upon the following evening, which would no doubt result
in a union both far more satisfying and of longer duration.

So did the grand vizier go forth upon the following morning, and he
located a second girl of marriageable age from a family of great
respectability. And, that evening, the wedding and feasting proceeded
in such a manner that all indications pointed to Shahryar having found a
new queen at last. The king led his new bride to the marriage chamber,
but, as his slaves were removing his many wedding robes, he heard a
voice say close by his ear in a tone of great jest, "We will show these
cushions they have been used!" And a second voice added in a tone of
even greater ribaldry, "It is time I once again witnessed your lance!"

Almost before Shahryar was aware of the movement of his arm, his
sword had once again come free of its sheath, and his newest bride's
head had lost the acquaintance of her body.

It was then that King Shahryar realized he truly had a problem. Not
only was he losing bride after bride, but he was receiving no satisfaction
of his manly needs. If he was forced by this curse to behead young girl
after young girl, the least he could do was ravish them first.

So it further occurred that the king once again spoke with his grand
vizier. And, in giving the good Aziz his new instructions, the king stated,
"Let us be done with this marriage business. I bid you to find another
girl of comely appearance and graceful manner somewhere within my
city's walls. She shall be my consort, and it will be her honor to help me
recover from my grief."