"Patrick Welch - The Hidden Princess" - читать интересную книгу автора (Welch Patrick)

The Hidden Princess
by Patrick Welch

Mr. Welch has previously or is currently appearing in Riverside Quarterly, Analog, Eternity, Millennium,
Phic-Shun, Jackhammer, and 69 Forms of Paranoia, all while pursuing an MA degree at Bowling Green State
University. He quit writing short fiction to concentrate on writing advertising and articles for local publications
until about a year ago. He has also had fiction accepted by Knightmares Magazine, Dazzler's Digital Domain and
Virtual Press, in addition to the mandatory novel or two bouncing around publishers.

Editor's Note: Mr. Welch has previously appeared in Pegasus Online in our August/September 1997 issue.

"Come closer, ladies and gentlemen, friends and neighbors, and enjoy the challenge of the
Hidden Princess!" Smiling faces gathered around my wagon as I spread three shells on my
overhanging platform. Above it, the banner reading "Dr. Forturo's Traveling Emporium of
Miscellaneous Marvels" flapped in the small breeze.
"As you can see, our princess is indeed shy." I held up a small round stone and placed it
under one of the shells. "So shy is she that she is determined to remain hidden from all but
the most discerning eye." Smoothly and rapidly -- but not too rapidly -- I rearranged the
shells left, right, above, below, all the while maintaining my spiel. "Now," I stopped and
stepped back, "our heroine believes she is safe and secure under one of her protective
canopies. Would anyone care to guess where she has gone?"

The herd chattered among themselves, first pointing to one, then another of the possibilities.
Finally a farm boy with markedly bovine features stepped forward. "I think she's here," he
said timorously, touching the one on the left.
"The lad says the left. Let us discover how discerning he really is." I lifted up the shell and
was rewarded by a round of applause as indeed the princess was nestled snugly below.
"Excellent, my young friend," I patted him on the head and handed him a trinket. "For your
troubles. Now, is anyone else up to the challenge, one that can be enjoyed for a single lead
coin?"
Indeed they were. One after another they offered their wealth to prove their eyesight was
more adept than the flashing hands of Dr. Forturo. One by one they were proven wrong. One
by one my coffers grew in size, much welcome since the villagers had been particularly
immune to my presentations of elixirs, potions and mysterious machines that my Traveling
Emporium was famous for.
I didn't win every time of course; that would be foolish. It is easier to shear the flock a few
skeins at a time than all at once. And ultimately more rewarding. But all good things must
come to an end; mine ended when a tall man dressed not at all like the villagers stood
before me. "You wish to try your skill, young man?" I smiled.

Wordlessly he set a gold coin in front of me and nodded. I finished my routine and he
pondered his predicament. "I will say," he paused another moment, "in the center." Before I
could react he overturned the shells on the left and right. Both were empty. He then looked at
me and smiled. "It would appear I guessed correctly."

"It would appear so," I agreed.
"Let's gaze upon her lovely countenance, shall we?" he continued, reaching for the center
shell.
I reacted first this time. I turned it over...the princess nestled comfortably under her hiding
place. "You have definitely earned your prize this day," I maintained my pleasant demeanor