The Light Fantastic (Discworld 2) - Page 199

'I suppose so. You know, sometimes I get the feeling that the Luggage knows exactly what it's doing.'

'I know what you mean.'

They crawled to the edge of the milling crowd, stood up, dusted themselves off and headed for the steps. No-one paid them any attention.

'What are they doing now?' said Twoflower, trying to see over the heads of the throng.

'It looks as though they're trying to lever it open,' said Rincewind.

There was a snap and a scream.

'I think the Luggage rather enjoys the attention,' said Twoflower, as they began their cautious descent.

'Yes, it probably does it good to get out and meet people,' said Rincewind, 'and now I think it'd do me good to go and order a couple of drinks.'

'Good idea,' said Twoflower. 'I'll have a couple of drinks too.'

It was nearly noon when Twoflower awoke. He couldn't remember why he was in a hayloft, or why he was wearing someone else's coat, but he did wake up with one idea right in the forefront of his mind.

He decided it was vitally important to tell Rincewind about it.

He fell out of the hay and landed on the Luggage.

'Oh, you're here, are you?' he said. 'I hope you're ashamed of yourself.'

The Luggage looked bewildered.

'Anyway, I want to comb my hair. Open up,' said Twoflower.

The Luggage obligingly flipped its lid. Twoflower rooted around among the bags and boxes inside until he found a comb and mirror and repaired some of the damage of the night. Then he looked hard at the Luggage.

'I suppose you wouldn't like to tell me what you've done with the Octavo?'

The Luggage's expression could only be described as wooden.

'All right. Come on, then.'

Twoflower stepped out into the sunlight, which was slightly too bright for his current tastes, and wandered aimlessly along the street. Everything seemed fresh and new, even the smells, but there didn't seem to be many people up yet. It had been a long night.

He found Rincewind at the foot of the Tower of Art, upervising a team of workmen who had rigged up a gantry of sorts on the roof and were lowering the stone wizards to the ground. He seemed to be assisted by a monkey, but Twoflower was in no mood to be surprised at anything.

'Will they be able to be turned back?' he said.

Rincewind looked around. 'What? Oh, it's you. No, probably not. I'm afraid they dropped poor old Wert, anyway. Five hundred feet onto cobbles.'

'Will you be able to do anything about that?'

'Make a nice rockery.' Rincewind turned and waved at the workmen.

'You're very cheerful,' said Twoflower, a shade reproachfully. 'Didn't you go to bed?'

'Funny thing, I couldn't sleep,' said Rincewind. 'I came out for a breath of fresh air, and no-one seemed to have any idea what to do, so I just sort of got people together,' he indicated the librarian, who tried to hold his hand, 'and started organising things. Nice day, isn't it? Air like wine.'

'Rincewind, I've decided that —'

'You know, I think I might re-enroll,' said Rincewind cheerfully. 'I think I could really make a go of things this time. I can really see myself getting to grips with magic and graduating really well. They do say if it's summa cum laude, then the living is easy – .'

'Good, because —'

Tags: Terry Pratchett Discworld Fantasy
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