"Roger Zelazny - Dragons" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

possibly want at a birthday party. Except for fireworks, that
is. Or a fire-breathing dragon.

"Do you think he will really produce a dragon?" asked the
third adviser.

"Of course not," said the second. "How could he have
gotten a dragon? And if he did, where is he keeping it?"

The captain of the King's Guard laughed. "You were going
to seek a dragon all by yourself, eh?" he said. "Well, where is
it?"

William did not answer him. Instead, he tapped his glass
with his spoon until the room was quiet. Then he cleared his
throat. He appeared to be a bit nervous.

"Uh, the time has come for the fireworks display," he told
them all, "in honor of her young majesty's tenth birthday.
Happy birthday, Princess. This is going to be a very special
and rather unusual display."

The king laughed and slapped his leg. "Yes, yes!" he cried
out. "Bring it on, William! Bring it on! Medium-sized, and with
colored lights, mind you!"

"Yes, your highness," said William, taking a tiny package
from beneath the table and placing it before him. It is in
here."

"It seems a pretty small package," said the king.

"Yes," said the first adviser.

"Yes indeed," said the second.

"Much too small," said the third.

The king opened the package. Bell jumped out and stood
upon the table.

The three advisers laughed. The knights laughed. They
laughed and laughed until the tears came into their eyes.

"That is supposed to be a medium-sized dragon, with
colored lights?" they asked. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

And they laughed and laughed and laughed some more, until
Bell stood up on his tiny hind legs and turned to William and
asked, "Now?"