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