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

as I paid him. "Would anyone else care to try his mettle?" I called out.

"I would," a former player stepped forward. He also put down a gold coin. "We will play the
game like this gentleman did. I will lift the two shells that I do not choose."
"Sir, that is not the way the Hidden Princess is played," I protested.

"If you cannot accept those rules, then perhaps you have not been playing honestly with us,"
the tall stranger threatened. "It should matter not which shells are turned over if indeed the
princess is under one of them."

The crowd agreed ominously, I reluctantly. The carnage began. I was able to win a few when
my patrons became overconfident, but within the hour I had repaid all that I had gained and
quite a few coins more. The villagers walked away laughing with greedy delight when I finally
put down my canvas and closed for the evening. They were still laughing when I steered my
reluctant team out of the hamlet of Gadmire to find a refuge for the evening.
A small clearing by a crystal stream proved adequate. I built a campfire, fed my animals and
stared into the flames. My appetite had disappeared along with my coins. I had been most
fortunate to slip the pebble back under the one shell; otherwise the evening would have
proven to be even more embarrassing. One thing was certain; Gadmire was no longer fertile
ground. Tomorrow I would have to ply my trade elsewhere.

"Elsewhere" proved to be Fremound, a fishing village a good three day's travel from my
previous target. My top hat, gold trousers and merrily painted wagon proved immediately to
be the most exciting event to strike the village since their last flood. It was difficult to
determine which was worse; the smell of the crowd or the stench of rotting fish. Yet they
proved eager enough; I was able to sell several love potions and charming mechanisms
before nightfall. That did not cover my losses from Gadmire, however, so I encouraged them
to return after their dinner hour to amuse themselves further at my carriage.
That evening I introduced the villagers to the game of the Secret Assassins. "As you can
see," I smiled, gazing down at their unwashed faces, "you have three caves in which you can
find refuge." I pointed to each of the shells in turn. "In one of these," I lifted the empty shell,
"you shall find safety and treasure. The other two, however, are guarded by demons who will
slay you instantly." Indeed the other two shells covered small pebbles. I smoothly rearranged
the shells. "Would anyone care to seek their fortune?"
Indeed they did. I can only imagine it was a result of their fishing activities because they
quickly proved to be formidable at the game. But not as formidable as I. The first several
times they were able to find their sanctuary without difficulty. Which only meant I had to make
it slightly more difficult. Within half an hour the tide had turned strongly in my favor and their
coins were flowing rapidly into my coffers. I was feeling quite pleased with my success when
an unwelcome but familiar figure stepped forward.

"I would like to try my fortune," he said coldly and placed a gold coin on the platform.

With difficulty I managed to maintain my smile. "A new player! We are indeed fortunate this
evening." I quickly rearranged the three shells. "You may begin."
He ignored me; instead he addressed the crowd. "Good citizens of Fremound, there are
two ways the game of Secret Assassins may be played. One is an honest test of eyesight
versus dexterity. One is dishonest thievery. The quickest way to discover if Dr. Forturo has
been using magician's tricks is simply to do this."