>> |
Anonymous
The two of them, trailed by the Death of Rats, walked into Deaths huge library. There were clouds here, up near the ceiling.
Death held out a hand. I WANT, he said, A BOOK ABOUT THE DANGEROUS CREATURES OF FOURECKS-
Albert looked up and dived for cover, receiving only mild bruising because he had the foresight to curl up into a ball.
After a while Death, his voice a little muffled, said: ALBERT, I WOULD BE SO GRATEFULE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A HAND HERE.
Albert scrambled up and pulled at some of the huge volumes, finally dislodging enough of them to allow his master to clamber free.
HMM...Death picked up a book at random and read the over: DANGEROUS MAMMALS, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, BIRDS, FISH, JELLYFISH, INSECTS, SPIDERS, CRUSTACEANS, GRASSES, TREES, MOSSES AND LICHENS OF TERROR INCOGNITA, He read. His gaze moved down the spine. VOLUME 29C, he added. OH. PART THREE, I SEE.
He glanced at the listening shelves. POSSIBLY IT WOULD BE SIMPLER IF I ASKED FOR A LIST OF THE *HARMLESS* CREATURES OF THE AFORESAID CONTINENT?
They waited.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT-
No wait, master. Here it comes.
Albert pointed to something white zigzagging lazily through the air. Finally Death reached up and caught the single sheet of paper.
He read it carefully and then turned it over briefly just in case anything was written on the other side.
May I? said Albert. Death handed him the paper.
Some of the sheep, Albert read aloud.
-Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent
|