Чужак в чужой стране

           Shewasafineexampleofmodernfunctionaldesignand,whilesheworeagreatdealmorethandidtheyoungladiesintheposingshow,neverthelessthereseemedtobeastrongprobabilitythatshewasnottattooedanywhere.Themarkshardlynoticeditwhenthesixeggsbecamefive,thenfourthree,two–untilatlastDr.Apollowastossingoneeggintheair,withhissleevesstillrolledupandapuzzledlookonhisface.Atlasthesaid,"Eggsaregettingscarcereveryyear,"andtossedtheremainingeggovertheheadsofthosenearesttheplatformtoamaninthebackofthecrowd."Catch!"

           Heturnedawayanddidnotseemtonoticethattheeggneverreacheditsdestination.

           Dr.Apolloperformedseveralothertricks,whilewearingalwaysthesameslightlypuzzledexpressionandwiththesameindifferentpatter.Oncehecalledayoungboyclosetotheplatform."Son,Icantellyouwhatyouarethinking.YouthinkI’mnotarealmagician.Andyou’reright.Forthatyouwinadollar."Hehandedthekidadollarbill.Itdisappeared.

           Themagicianlookedunhappy."Droppedit?Well,hangontothisone."Asecondbilldisappeared.

           "Oh,dear.Well,we’llhavetogiveyouonemorechance.Usebothhands.Gotit?Allright,bettergetoutofherefastwithit–YOUshouldbehomeinbedanyhow."Thekiddashedawaywiththemoneyandthemagicianturnedbackandagainlookedpuzzled"MadameMerlin,whatshouldwedonow?"

           Hisprettyassistantcameuptohim,pulledhisheaddownbyoneear,whisperedintoit.Heshookhishead.