"Patricia C. Wrede - Magician 1 - Mairelon the Magicia" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wrede Patricia C)

fascinated. The droopy man swung a small ladder down at the
right side of the stage and latched it in place, then climbed
onto the stage itself. He vanished behind the curtain, only to
reappear a moment later carrying a table, which he set care-

hilly in the middle of the stage. Then he began hanging lan-
terns on either side.

A crowd began to collect around the end of the wagon,
drawn by the curious spectacle of something being set up in
the market in complete silence Some of the bystanders of-
fered comments as the lanterns were hung and litтАФ"Waste o'
good oil, that," and "Bit crooked, ain't she?" The droopy man
chewed on his mustache, but gave no sign that he had heard.


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He finished his work and disappeared once more behind
the curtain For a long moment there was no further activity,
and the small crowd murmured in disappointment. Before
they could begin to drift away, there was a loud crash, and a
thick cloud of white smoke enveloped the stage

"Come one, come all!" called a ringing voice from the cen-
ter of the smoke. "Prepare to be amazed and astonished by
the one, the onlyтАФMairelon the Magician!"

With the last words, the smoke dissipated. In the center of
the stage stood a man- His hair was dark above a rounded
face, and he had a small, neat mustache but no beard. He
wore a black opera cape and a top hat, which made it difficult
to assess his height; Kim judged him middling tall. His right
hand held a silver-headed walking stick, "Another toff'" Kim
thought with disgust. She did not for a moment believe that
he was a real magician; if he were, he would never waste his
time working the market. Still, she felt a twinge of un-
easiness.

The man held his pose for a moment, then threw back his
cape. "I am Mairelon the Magician!" he announced. "Lend me
your attention and I will show you wonders. The knowledge
of the East and the West is mine, and the secrets of the mys-
terious cults of Africa and India! Behold!"

Mairelon pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket and
displayed both sides- "A perfectly ordinary handkerchiefтАФas
ordinary, that is, as the finest silk may be- Stuff of such