Цитаты из книги Чужак

Sir Juffin Hully found us sitting on the floor locked in an embrace, tears of laughter streaming down our faces. We wheezed weakly, since we were already hoarse from laughing so hard. “Max you were such a romantic boy,” the chief remarked acidly. “You were even too shy to go to the Quarter of Trysts. And what do I see here? All it took was for you to acquire a bust and to spend twenty four hours in the company of Lady Sotofa – and you fall into the arms of a complete stranger.” “Sir Juffin,” Melifaro moaned. “If you leave him like he is, I swear I’m going to marry him!” “I won’t marry you, sir. You deceived me,” I said coquettishly. “Oh, Juffin, you should have heard him.” Melifaro and I started howling with laughter again. “What exactly has been going on here?” asked Juffin. “Nothing I wouldn’t tell my mama,” I said. Now Sir Juffin joined in our laughter.

“But don’t despair, Sir Max. We’ll turn you into an elegant damsel.” “A damsel? Elegant? Me?!” My astonishment knew no bounds. “Why are you so surprised? Sir Kofa will do some work on your face and voice, pick out a wig for you... It’s all quite simple.” “I’ll become the laughing stock of the House by the Bridge this season!” I wailed. “Juffin, just what kind of damsel would I make?” “A tall, skinny, and fairly broad-shouldered one. Perhaps not the type that appeals most to men, but that’s Lonli-Lokli’s problem. He’ll just have to travel with an ugly wife.”

“Sir Shurf, let the lady down. Then grab Max and get a move on! The three of us will follow you.” Sir Shurf looked me up and down, and then picked me up with the gallantry of a professional stevedore. “Shurf, I can walk!” I shouted. “Juffin didn’t mean it like that.” “Is that true, Sir Juffin?” Lonli-Lokli asked politely. “What? Oh, Sinning Magicians! You’re driving me out of my wits, boys! Of course I only meant for you to go in together. What kind of an outfit is this? Secret Investigative Force, terror of the universe, my foot! It’s a circus, that’s what it is!”

I slept remarkably well. When I woke up, it was already dark. I received a prisoner’s meal, which tasted curiously like the recent festive breakfast. Why do Juffin and I always eat at the Glutton Bunba? The food is great there, of course, but prison fare seemed to be more refined. We’d have to introduce the tradition of carousing at Xolomi: purely out of professional considerations, of course. Or perhaps we could spend Days of Freedom from Care on the premises – it’s quiet, cozy, and there’s nobody to bother you.

С младенческих лет я не мог спать по ночам. Зато сладко дрых по утрам, а именно в это время суток, как известно, и происходит распределение удачи. На утреннем небосклоне огненными буквами начертан девиз несправедливейшего из миров: «Кто рано встает, тому бог дает», — так ведь? Кошмар моего детства — ежедневное ожидание ужасной минуты, когда мне скажут: «Спокойной ночи, детка, поцелуй маму и отправляйся в постель». Время, проведенное под одеялом, долгие часы, безнадежно испорченные тщетными попытками заснуть. Есть, впрочем, и приятные воспоминания: о ни с чем не сравнимой свободе, которую, как я быстро понял, получаешь, когда спят все остальные (если, конечно, научишься не шуметь и скрывать следы своей «тайной деятельности»). Но самое мерзкое — мучительные пробуждения по утрам, вскоре после того, как наконец удалось заснуть. По этой причине я сперва возненавидел детский сад, а потом и школу.