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

Any wish of the king's became the vizier's wish as well. Aziz therefore
once again left the palace and, after some little search, found a
reasonably attractive young woman of marriageable age from a family
of somewhat lower social standing, for this business about the
beheadings had been getting about in the upper reaches of society.

Still did the nighttime come, as it surely must at the end of the day. And,
upon this evening, since there had been no wedding to waste his
valuable time, Shahryar found himself within his chambers at a much
earlier hour. And also present was the maiden, guided there by the
faithful Aziz, who then had prudently taken his leave.

The girl stared most humbly at the floor as her king approached.

"Take off your garments," Shahryar instructed, "for you are to be
ravished by a king."

"Most certainly, sire," she replied as she began to remove her outer
garments.

Surely, Shahryar thought, this would be different from his earlier nights.
Truly, then, he should finally be able to facilitate his male requirements.
And after that all-important easement, who knew? Well, of course,
there could still be a beheading, but it no longer seemed quite so
required. For the first time in ever so long, the night appeared to be
alive with possibilities.

Still, however, was the king wary of a repetition of the events of the last
pair of evenings. So it was that he instructed his young consort in the
following manner:

"I caution you, if you value your life, you will not discuss overmuch the
use of cushions."

"Cushions?" she asked, her eyes still studying the floor. "No, I will
certainly not mention such a thing, if it is your wish."

Yet even hearing that word "cushions" come from the young woman's
lips made the king shiver. Would the curse visit him this night as well?
But surely, she was only responding to his request. And yet, were that
the case, why should he feel such unease?

"And lances!" the king therefore added with all speed. "I do not want to
hear a word about lances!"

"Whyever-" the young girl began, but then paused to giggle as Shahryar
reached to undo his belt. "Oh, that sort of lance! My girlfriends have
told me much about riding-"

"Oh, bother!" the king muttered distractedly. For as soon as those