"John Morressy -- Walter and the Wonderful Watch" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

"Allow me to be the judge of that," said the watch. "First find out what's happening."

Walter stopped a man passing by and asked the cause of this gloom. "It's the king," the
man said.
"Is he dead?" Walter asked.

"No," said the man with a sigh of regret. "He's bored. He's run out of amusements, and
that makes him fretful. He's already raised taxes twice this month. He's liable to start a war
any day now."

"A war!" Walter cried in alarm. "Who's the enemy?"
"He's still deciding," said the man.

The king, Walter quickly learned, was not a good king. He was spoiled and
self-indulgent and cruel. He spent most of the royal treasury on toys, games, and trinkets for
himself. As long as his playthings kept him amused, he ignored the people; but when he
grew bored, he started meddling in public affairs. He threw people in dungeons, cut off
heads, raised taxes, started wars, and generally made himself a nuisance until some new
diversion caught his fancy.

That night, in his room in a squalid shed behind the inn, Walter said to the watch, "I think
we've come to the wrong place."

"Nonsense, my boy," said the watch. "This is your great opportunity."
"To get my head cut off?"
"No, no, no. To make your fortune. We must see the king tomorrow."

"I'll never be admitted to the palace!"
"Trust me, Walter."
"But I don't know how to talk to a king. I just want a job."

"Leave everything to me and do as I say," said the watch. "Before we go, you'd better
polish me up. And while you're at it, make yourself presentable."

The next morning, having washed his face and hands and shaken much of the dust from
his clothes, Walter went to the palace and asked to be admitted. The guard at the gate
barred his way.
"No beggars or peddlers allowed," said the guard.

"I'm not a beggar or a peddler. I bring a present for the king," Walter replied.
The guard looked down at him in scorn. "What is it, a lump of dirt?"
 Walter repeated the words that the watch had taught him that very morning. "Time lies
heavy on the king's hands. I bring a present that will make him very happy. And if the king is
happy, he'll make you and me happy. So take me to him at once."

The guard thought that over for a minute, then said, "All right. But if your present doesn't
make the king happy, then the king and I are going to make you very un happy."
He let Walter enter. Another guard led him down a long series of corridors, all cluttered
with broken toys and abandoned playthings, until they reached the throne room where the
king sat sulking.