drew another arc as if

scripting　a　letter；　and　I　was　moved　to　the　verge　of　laughter。　I　swooped　down　in

a perfect arc from the neck of my rearing horse to its saddle。 My hand

occupied itself with the saddle as I proudly regarded my horse； now ing

into　being；　with　a　robust；　rounded　body　not　unlike　my　own：　Everyone　will　be

stunned　by　this　horse。　I　thought　about　the　sweet　ments　Our　Sultan　would

make　when　I　won　the　prize；　He’d　present　me　with　a　purse　of　gold　coins；　and　I

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had　the　urge　to　laugh　again　as　I　imagined　how　I’d　count　them　at　home。　Just

then；　my　hand；　which　I　gazed　at　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　finished　with　the

saddle　and　took　my　brush　to　the　inkwell　and　back　before　I　began　the　horse’s

rump　with　a　chuckle　as　though　I’d　told　a　joke。　I　briskly　outlined　the　tail。　How

gentle　and　curvaceous　I　made　the　rear　end；　lovingly　wishing　to　cup　it　in　my

hands　like　the　gentle　butt　of　a　boy　I　was　about　to　violate。　As　I　smiled；　my　clever

hand　finished　with　the　hind　legs；　and　my　brush　stopped：　This　was　the　finest

rearing horse the world had ever known。 I was overe with joy； happily

thinking　about　how　much　they　would　like　my　horse；　how　they　would　declare

me　the　most　talented　of　miniaturists　and　even　how　they　would　announce　at

once　that　I　was　to　bee　Head　Illuminator；　but　then　I　considered　what　else

those idiots would say： “How quickly and joyfully he’s drawn this！” For this

reason alone； I was worried they wouldn’t take my wonderful illustration

seriously。　Therefore；　I　meticulously　rendered　the　mane；　nostrils；　teeth；　strands

of　horsetail　and　saddle　blanket　in　minute