‘I could fetch a nearly new robe, sir, and the lad can have my old broom if you’ll sign a chitty for me to get a new one from stores, sir,’ said Lu-Tze, sweating helpfulness at every pore. ‘Can I be of any help, your acolytility?’ he said, with a sort of mad keen subservience that was quite alien to his normal attitude.
‘Do we have any … uh … do we present sweepers with … do we by any chance …?’ the acolyte mumbled. The abbot merely blew bubbles, and grinned the inward knowing grin of all babies everywhere. The other senior members of the monastery had no wish to share in the huge pink cloud of embarrassment. The chief acolyte looked around, but there was no help anywhere. ‘In this valley, sir,’ said Lobsang firmly, ‘I am as worthy as a sweeper.’ ‘But … but … you are the incarnation of Time …’ The chief acolyte licked his suddenly dehydrated lips. And, from the lines of sweepers who had been allowed to pause in their tasks to watch the event, there was a watchful, intent silence. There were gasps of shock, and one or two nervous laughs. ‘Then I will take the broom and the robe of a sweeper, sir.’ ‘Lu-Tze has declared that you have completed your apprenticeship, my lo- Lobsang Ludd.’ It had been left to the chief acolyte to ask why, while the whispered current of surprise washed through the crowd. Besides, Lobsang might have been master of the gulfs of time, but the abbot was master of the valley, and therefore respect was a line that travelled in both directions.īut the handing over of the robe had caused a difficult moment. The abbot did not appear overawed, because babies generally aren’t and will throw up over anyone. It was, Lu-Tze reminisced later, an unusual ceremony. They left the dojo and, followed now by every soul in Oi Dong, headed for the long terrace. ‘Don’t make any comment if he dribbles on it, please.’ ‘… and the abbot, I believe, is ready to present you with the robe,’ said Lu-Tze. There was the sound of someone being hit with a rubber yak. The remains of the door were pushed aside by the hands of many monks. ‘But only one of us can leave, Sweeper,’ said Lobsang, rubbing his shoulders. Lu-Tze grinned again, and gently pulled him upright. Lobsang was about to take the hand when he hesitated. Def’nitely give the ol’ Rule One a fillip. Besides,’ he lowered his voice to a whisper, ‘everyone peeking in here has seen me beat Time and that’s the sort of thing that’ll look really good on my curriculum vitae, if you catch my meaning. Lu-Tze got to his feet, and went on: ‘But you have performed well, all things considered, and therefore as your master I have no hesitation in recommending you for the yellow robe. * * * - Thief of Time (Terry Pratchett) | Read books online free without registration and downloading Terry Pratchett « Thief of Time» Subject: Comic Fantasy/Science-fiction * * *
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