"John Morressy - The Juggler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

aside and a burly guardsman pushed his way through to confront the juggler.
"When did you enter the city?" the guardsman de-manded.
"This very morning," said the juggler, rising from his knees.
"You will come with us to the palace and perform for our master, the count Osostro."
"As you wish," said the juggler. He took up his daggers, shouldered his meager pack, and, at the
guardsman's back, set out for the palace.
That night, before Count Osostro, he repeated his performance of the marketplace. The count was
pleased. Two nights later, the juggler astonished ev-eryone with the spectacle of little crystal spheres that
seemed to appear in his hands from nowhere and flashed in a ring of brilliant ever-changing colors under
the blaze of torches and candles, only to meta-morphose one by one in midair into roses of varied colors.
His third performance climaxed when the eggs he had been juggling, no bigger than the ball of his thumb,
broke one by one and a tiny bird, singing sweetly, flew from each to circle the count's head and perch on
the back of his throne.
Each time he performed, the juggler astounded his audience with some new and unexpected feat. But
even the skills of a master could not delight for long a man of the count's demanding tastes. One evening, in
the midst of the juggler's act, he grew bored and, on a whim, tossed a silver goblet to him. The juggler
caught it without spilling a drop and managed to incorporate it into the rainbow of crystal vessels flashing
above his head. The count, angered, seized another goblet and flung it, and then, very quickly, another. The
juggler caught the second, but the third, thrown with the count's full force, struck him on the forehead and
blinded him momentarily with the wine. He staggered,- his rhythm broke, and a rain of vessels and goblets
fell to the floor around him, the crystal shivering to bits, the goblets clattering and bouncing. Wine from the
goblets soaked his tunic and spattered on the nearest guests.
The count laughed loudly in the sudden silence. "So, you're not so skilled after all," he said. He dis-missed
the juggler with a contemptuous "Away, char-latan," and a flick of his hand, and the juggler bowed and left
the hall.
Next day he was nowhere to be found. When the count Osostro learned of the juggler's absence, he flew
into a rage. The man had entered his domain without permission, and the count had overlooked the
trans-gression. For him to dare to leave in the same manner was intolerable. The count Osostro did not
permit anyone to presume upon his forbearance.
Guards were dispatched. The juggler was found on the high road, still within sight of the walls, and
brought to the palace. He was taken before the count, and awaited judgment with an impassive expression.
"On the seven nights that you appeared before me, you entertained me. For that I will reward you. First
with this purse of gold," said the count, tossing the juggler a purse the size of a large apple. The juggler took
it up and dropped to one knee to acknowledge the count's generosity. The courtiers murmured in
appro-bation and praise.
"I am not done," said the count. "As a further re-ward, I will allow you to choose which hand you are to
lose as punishment for leaving my domain without permission."
The hall was still in an instant. The juggler blinked and paled slightly, but showed no other reaction. He
extended his hands before him, looking from one to the other. After a pause he said, "It must be the count's
own decision."
"If you refuse to make the choice, I will have your right hand."
The juggler closed his eyes and sighed. "Let it be so."
The count smoothed his short red beard thoughtfully and studied the man before him. "Then you are
left-handed . . . or you wish me to think you are. Which is it?"
"I am not left-handed."
The count remained silent for a time,- then he de-clared, "I have pronounced my judgment. Let his right
hand be struck off." The guards took the juggler by either arm. No one else moved. The hall remained
silent. The count turned to his chamberlain, who stood beside the seat of judgment, and said, "Do you think
me too severe?"
The chamberlain was a decent man at heart, but he had learned to be circumspect in answering his