Alcus ran off the stairs of the embankment and was in the boat in an instant. And the next moment it was already pumped up on the waves of the Neva, hurrying to get to the middle of the river.
As soon as the palace was left behind, Alcus pulled his shirt over his head and tied it on his head, as all the boys used to do, hoping to protect his clothes from dust and his head from the bright sunlight. A crowded embankment slipped by the further from the Emperor's residence, the more ordinary citizens could be seen near the river. There were ladies walking leisurely with openwork umbrellas, noisy traders with different snow, and barefoot children of different classes... Closer to the port fishermen began to appear with their fragrant goods. A couple of times Alcus even saw the main urban novelty - amazing road cars!
- Stop here! - Alexander's voice was ringing, very boyish. He didn't like it very much, but what can I do... Another year or two and it will break - it will become as low as his father's.
The river coachman cleverly led the boat to the stone stairs on which Alcus climbed the quayside.
How beautiful is the port!
There is always so much amazing here... Especially steamships!
Alexander looked around and immediately noticed a small smoked vessel with a high pipe. On his board, the men in striped tops were arguing loudly. A couple more angry screams and one of them flew into the water. The noisy outburst was followed by the laughter of those left on the boat and those who saw the scene from the outside. Alcus watched as the sailor climbed on the rope back on board and sighed jealously. He had a passion for looking at the engine room of the boat with one eye. To climb there between the huge mechanisms... Once the governor allowed the heir to visit the biggest steamer of Alexandburg, but under the strict guidance of these breadcrumbs, Alk had little time to see.
In his pockets, there were still a few new rubels in his pockets, and in Alexander's head flashed a crazy idea to pay one of the sailors and ask to spend on the steamer. But he never dared to do so. There wasn't much time left until the end of the lesson, and Alc decided just to walk along the waterfront.
Passing by an old gray duster with her deliciously smelling goods, Alc couldn't resist and buy a couple of rosy fried bagels sprinkled with powdered sugar. In exchange for his big new coin, he received a whole handful of worn copper maneuvers. And then he poured half of them back into the old lady's apron. When he went further, endless blessings and wishes of a long life rushed into his back.
Suddenly the crowd on the quay was worried, and the melodic ringing of bells reached Alexander's ears. Crushing the sleepy yawns, he sneaked up to the pavement and saw three horses pulled into an amazing van painted with bright colors. The ribbons were woven into the horses' manes and the strange outfit of the horse-drawn carriage on the van's illumination was also painted in different colors. The man was wearing a shirt and trousers made of large colored shreds. The man's head was crowned with a shabby red cylinder without a bottom, and his face was darkened with whitewash.
- Wow!" some very small boy of about six years old cried out next to Alexander. The boy was holding an eaten pie in his hand, but he seemed to have forgotten all about the treats, looking at the whimsical van.
The man in the holey cylinder smiled cheerfully, and a young girl suddenly climbed onto the roof of the van in bright blue tight tights.
- Hurry to see! - She shouted out loud. - Only tomorrow, Piroux-san's stray artists perform in the main square! Deadly tricks and amazing transformations! Come on, everybody! Come and see the miracles! - Dozens of colorful papers, which the girl threw over her head, have swung into the air. One of them slowly landed right at Alka's feet.
Piro-san's stray artists," he read the title, written in large letters. And then came a smaller text: - Hurry to see the miracles! Only on the Big Carnival holiday, the most amazing artists will perform on the main square of your city! A sword swallower, a knife thrower, a boy without bones, a human-bear, a tiny put woman, and many, many others!
Alcus carefully folded the poster four times and stuck it in his pocket. When the holiday is over, and all the artists will leave, he will take out this piece of paper and plunge into the hot sunny day, full of anticipation of the miracle ...
Continuation in the next part of 14.