"Rudy Rucker - Hieronymus Bosch's Apprentice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rucker Rudy)

Azaroth glared at Jayjay for a moment, then looked over at Bosch. “You can keep the harp if you let my
cousins stay with you,” he said in Dutch. “They need a home. They’re just as clever and strong as
full-sized humans. They can help you in your studio and around the house.”

“You truly grant me the harp?” said Bosch, his face lighting up, wrinkles wreathing his eyes.

“She belongs with you,” said Azaroth, not liking this.

“I could make Jayjay an apprentice,” said Bosch. “My brother Goossen’s sons have no time for me
these days. My piety disturbs them.” The bagpipe music droned on, just outside. “It would be useful to
have someone cunning and nimble for certain jobs,” continued Bosch. “Like painting escutcheons on the
columns in the cathedral, or decorating a house’s gables. Or painting over—” He squatted down,
studying Jayjay with his lively eyes, the corners of his mouth in constant motion. “Would you like to paint
something special for me, boy?”
“I would.”

“What about me?” said Thuy. “I’m the artistic one. I’m a writer.”

“I don’t want two gnomes in my studio,” said Bosch shaking his head. “I don’t want to live in the world
that I paint.”

“I won’t leave,” said Thuy. “I’m Jayjay’s wedded wife.”



“Oh, they have all seven sacraments in the Garden of Eden?” said Bosch. “Unheard of news.” He
cocked his head, staring at them. Bosch’s green and brown eyes understood, suffered, forgave, were
amused. “Don’t imagine you can gull me. Where are you two from?”

“California,” said Jayjay. “Not Eden but, yes, it’s in the New World, so far west that it’s very nearly the
Spice Islands, which is approximately where my wife’s parents were born.”

“The world grows apace,” said Bosch. “Were you married in the Church?”

“Married in City Hall,” said Jayjay. “That’s just as good in California. We worship our government.”

“Well, I suppose your Thuy can sleep here too. But she’ll have to busy herself elsewhere during the days.
Suppose she leaves every morning, and only returns at suppertime or, better, later than that.”

“She can spend the days with me,” said Azaroth. “She’ll help with my fishing and I’ll show her around
town.”

“That’ll do,” said Thuy. She was studying the tall paintings leaned against the walls. “Oh, wow. These are
the wings of The Temptation of St. Anthony!”

“Indeed that’s the theme of this triptych,” said Bosch. “Very perceptive of you to read the iconography.
Perhaps I’ll let you study my works in the mornings before you leave.”

“I recognized the panels, too,” Jayjay was quick to say. Thuy gave him the finger. But with a smile.