Голод
Part I
Isearchedmybrainforacoupleofdesperatelies,wentthewholehog,hintedthatHappolatihadbeenMinisterofStatefornineyearsinPersia."YouperhapshavenoconceptionofwhatitmeanstobeMinisterofStateinPersia?"Iasked.Itwasmorethankinghere,oraboutthesameasSultan,ifheknewwhatthatmeant,butHappolatihadmanagedthewholething,andwasneverataloss.AndIrelatedabouthisdaughterYlajali,afairy,aprincess,whohadthreehundredslaves,andwhoreclinedonacouchofyellowroses.ShewastheloveliestcreatureIhadeverseen;Ihad,maytheLordstrikeme,neverseenhermatchforlooksinmylife!
"So—o;wasshesolovely?"remarkedtheoldfellow,withanabsentair,ashegazedattheground.
"Lovely?Shewasbeauteous,shewassinfullyfascinating.Eyeslikerawsilk,armsofamber!Justoneglancefromherwasasseductiveasakiss;andwhenshecalledme,hervoicedartedlikeawine-rayrightintomysoul’sphosphor.Andwhyshouldn’tshebesobeautiful?"Didheimagineshewasamessengerorsomethinginthefirebrigade?ShewassimplyaHeaven’swonder,Icouldjustinformhim,afairytale.
"Yes,tobesure!"saidhe,notalittlebewildered.
