"Eugeny L.Schwarz. Dragon (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Boy.
Peddler.
Warden.
Servants, guards, townspeople.

Act 1.

A spacious, cozy kitchen, with a big hearth in the back. The stone
floor is shining. On the easy chair in front of the hearth Cat is napping.

Lancelot (entering, looks around, calls out) Master! Mistress! Is there
a living soul around here? Nobody's home... The house is empty, the gate is
open, the doors are unlocked, windows ajar. Good thing I'm an honest person,
otherwise I would've had to sneak around, tremble, grab what's valuable and
get out fast -- just when I want to rest a little. (Sits down.) All right,
we'll wait. Mister Cat! Are your masters going to be back soon? Huh? Keeping
quiet, are you?
Cat. I am.
Lancelot. And why is that, if I may be permitted to inquire?
Cat. When it's soft and warm around you, it's wiser to slumber and keep
your mouth shut, my dear friend.
Lancelot. Still, where are your masters?
Cat. They went out, which is most pleasant.
Lancelot. So, you don't like them?
Cat. I love them with every hair in my fur, and with my paws and my
whiskers, but there is a big tragedy upon them. I have peace in my soul only
when they go out the door.
Lancelot. I see. So there's trouble coming up? What kind? Are you
keeping hush again?
Cat. I am.
Lancelot. Why?
Cat. When it's soft and warm around you, it's wiser to slumber and keep
your mouth shut, rather than concern yourself with future unpleasantness.
Mew!
Lancelot. Hey, Cat, are you trying to scare me? It's so cozy here in
this kitchen, the fire in the hearth has been built so lovingly. I refuse to
believe that this nice house is being threatened. Cat! What's going on here?
Answer me! Now!
Cat. Why don't you let me doze off, stranger.
Lancelot. Listen, Cat, you don't know me. I'm a very light person -- so
light that I've been drifting all over the world like a feather. And I
easily stick my nose into other people's troubles. That got me wounded 19
times lightly, 5 times heavily and three times -- mortally. But I'm still
alive, because I'm not only light as a feather, but also stubborn as a mule.
Now tell me, Cat, what happened here? What if I could rescue your masters?
I've been known to do that, you know. So? Come on! What's your name?
Cat. Marichen.
Lancelot. I thought you were ...
Cat. Well, I am, but these humans can sometimes be so inattentive. My
masters are still wondering why is it that I haven't had kittens yet. They