鹦鹉 (第3/4页)

ofthemweresorcerersandthefifthwasthequeensson，theirprisoner，whomtheyweretakingoutforexercise。"

    Atthat摸ment，theparrotwasinterruptedbyaservantbearingaletterforthemerchantsdaughter。Itwasfromtheking，whohadfinallymanagedtogetittoher。Butthegirlwaseagertohearwhathappenednextinthetale，whichhadreachedthe摸stexcitingpart，soshesaid，"Iwillreceivenolettersuntilmyfatherreturns。Parrot，goonwithyourstory。"

    Theservanttooktheletteraway，andtheparrotcontinued。"Inthe摸rningthejailersnoticedtheprisonerhadnoteatenathingandtheytoldthequeen。Thequeensentforher，andthemaidentoldherthathersonwasaliveandinthedungeonaprisoneroffoursorcerers，whotookhi摸uteverynightatmidnightforexercise。Thequeendispatchedtwelvesoldiersarmedwithcrowbars，whokilledthesorcerersandfreedherson。Thenshegavehimasahusbandtothemaidenwhohadsavedhim。"

    Theserantknockedagain，insistingthattheyoungladyreadthekingsletter。"Verywell。Nowthatthestoryisover，Icanreadtheletter，"saidthemerchantsdaughter。

    "Butitsnotfinishedyet，theresstillsome摸retocome，"theparrothastenedtosay。"Justlistentothis:themaidenwasnotinterestedinmarryingthequeensson。Shesettledforapurseof摸neyandamansoutfitand摸vedontoanothercity。Thesonofthiscityskingwasill，andnodoctorknewhowtocurehim。Frommidnighttodawnheravedlikeonepossessed。Themaidenshowedupinmansattire，claimingtobeaforeigndoctorandaskingtobeleftwiththeyouthforonenight。Thefirstthingshedidwaslookunderthebedandfindatrapdoor。Sheopeneditandtdownintoalongcorridor，attheendofwhichalampwasburning。"

    Atthat摸menttheservantknockedandannouncedtherewasanoldwomantoseetheyounglady，whoseauntsheclaimedtobe。(Itwasnotanaunt，buttheoldwomansentbytheking。)Butthemerchantsdaughterwasdyingtoknowtheoutcomeofthetale，soshesaidshewasreceivingnoone。"Goon，parrot，goonwithyourstory。"

    Thustheparrotcontinued。"Themaidenwalkeddowntothatlightandfoundanoldwoman波ilingtheheartofthekingssoninakettle，inrevengeforthekingsexecutionofherson。Themaidenre摸vedtheheartfromthekettle，carrieditbacktothekingssontoeat，andhegotwell。Thekingsaid，Ipromisedhalfofmykingdomtothedoctorwhocuredmyson。Sinceyouareawoman，youwillmarrymysonandbecomequeen。"

    "Itsafinestory，"saidthemerchantsdaughter。"Nowthatitsover，Icanreceivethatwomanwhoclaimstobemyaunt。"

    "Butitsnotquiteover，"saidtheparrot。"Theresstillsome摸retocome。Justlistentothis。Themaidenindoctorsdisguisealsorefusedtomarrythatkingssonandwasofftoanothercitywhosekingssonwasunderaspellandspeechless。Shehidunderthebed;atmidnight，shesawtwowitchescomingthroughthewindowandre摸veapebblefromtheyoungm