"Craig Shaw Gardner - Arabian 3 - The Last Arabian Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner Craig Shaw)shoulders of the others. And this djinni carried upon the top of his head
a great ivory box. But it was the box who spoke: "You may put me down there." "Yes, most beloved," the djinni said hurriedly, and placed the ivory box, which was worked with intricate designs and set with many precious stones, upon the ground only a small distance from the pond and the hiding place of the kings. And then did the djinni call out in his great and booming voice: "Come out, come out, O Sulima, and do your dance for me!" Then did the lid of the box push open, and a woman of perfect size and form stepped forth. She was dressed all in the finest silk, in a gown whose color seemed to change with every movement she took beneath the sun, so that one moment her dress was the blue of the sky, the next the red of blood, and at a third moment the yellow-orange of wildflowers. "I do as you command!" the woman said to the great djinni, and she began to dance, her arms and legs shifting back and forth to subtle rhythms, and so graceful and regular were her movements that neither the djinni nor the two kings could tear their gaze away from her. most prodigiously. "My beloved Zzzzzzz." And the last word was nothing more than a snore, for the djinni had fallen fast asleep. "Now he has been placed out of the way," the woman called loudly and with great merriment,''which of you in the tree will be first?" "Who?" Shahzaman called out in surprise. "Which tree?" Shahryar added. "Oh, come now, my fine gentlemen," the woman Sulima rejoined. "I have known you were there from the moment I popped out of the sea. Now, which of you warriors will be the first to try your fine lance upon me?" And with that she smiled and snapped her fingers, producing tiny flames within the palms of each hand. The two brothers turned to look one upon the other. Shahryar made a gracious wave of his hand toward the younger king. "You were most recently my guest, and guests shall always go first." But to that, Shahzaman replied, "Oh, no, my dear brother. I insist that you are the elder and thus must go before me in all things." So did they argue for some moments, with much gesturing and suggestive waving of eyebrows, until Sulima interrupted. |
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