Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett [53]
Lu-Tze pushed Lobsang to the floor a moment before the bowl exploded. Metal fragments scythed overhead.
“I added just a little something extra since you last saw it,” said Qu proudly, as they got to their feet again. “A very versatile device. Plus, of course, you can use it to eat rice out of. Oh, and have you seen this?”
He picked up a prayer drum. Both Lu-Tze and Lobsang took a step back.
Qu twirled the drum a few times, and the weighted cords pattered against the skins.
“The cord can be instantly removed for a handy garotte,” he said, “and the drum itself can be removed—like so—to reveal this useful dagger.”
“Plus, of course, you can use it to pray with?” said Lobsang.
“Well spotted,” said Qu. “Quick boy. A prayer is always useful in the last resort. In fact we’ve been working on a very promising mantra incorporating sonic tones that have a particular effect on the human nervous syst—”
“I don’t think we need any of this stuff, Qu,” said Lu-Tze.
Qu sighed. “At least you could let us turn your broom into a secret weapon, Lu-Tze. I’ve shown you the plans—”
“It is a secret weapon,” said Lu-Tze. “It’s a broom.”
“How about the new yaks we’ve been breeding? At the touch of a rein, their horns will instantly—”
“We want the spinners, Qu.”
The monk suddenly looked guilty.
“Spinners? What spinners?”
Lu-Tze walked across the room and pressed a hand against part of the wall, which slid aside.
“These spinners, Qu. Don’t muck me about, we haven’t got time.”
Lobsang saw what looked very much like two small Procrastinators, each one within a metal framework mounted on a board. There was a harness attached to each board.
“You haven’t told the abbot about them yet, have you,” said Lu-Tze, unhooking one of the things. “He’d put a stop to them if you did, you know that.”
“I didn’t think anyone knew!” said Qu. “How did you—”
Lu-Tze grinned. “No one notices a sweeper,” he said.
“They’re still very experimental!” said Qu, close to panic. “I was going to tell the abbot, of course, but I was waiting until I had something to demonstrate! And it would be terrible if they fell into the wrong hands!”
“Then we’ll see to it that they don’t,” said Lu-Tze, examining the straps. “How’re they powered now?”
“Weights and ratchets were too unreliable,” said Qu. “I’m afraid I had to resort to…clockwork.”
Lu-Tze stiffened, and he glared at the monk. “Clockwork?”
“Only as a motive force, only as a motive force!” Qu protested. “There’s really no other choice!”
“Too late now, it’ll have to do,” said Lu-Tze, unhooking the other board and passing it across to Lobsang. “There you go, lad. With a bit of sacking round it it’ll look just like a backpack.”
“What is it?”
Qu sighed. “They’re portable Procrastinators. Try not to break them, please.”
“What will we need them for?”
“I hope you don’t have to find out,” said Lu-Tze. “Thanks, Qu.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer some time bombs?” said Qu hopefully. “Drop one on the floor and time will slow for—”
“Thanks, but no.”
“The other monks were fully equipped,” said Qu.
“But we’re traveling light,” said Lu-Tze firmly. “We’ll go out the back way, Qu, okay?”
The back way led to a very narrow path and a small gate in the wall. Dismembered wooden dummies and patches of scorched rock indicated that Qu and his assistants often came this way. And then there was another path, beside one of the many icy streamlets.
“Qu means well,” said Lu-Tze, walking fast. “But if you listen to him you end up clanking when you walk and exploding when you sit down.”
Lobsang ran to keep up.
“It’ll take weeks to walk to Ankh-Morpork, Sweeper!”
“We’ll slice our way there,” said Lu-Tze, and he stopped and turned. “You think you can do that?”
“I’ve done it hundreds of times—” Lobsang began.
“Back in Oi Dong, yes,” said Lu-Tze. “But there’s all kinds of checks and safeguards in the valley. Oh, didn’t you know that? Slicing in Oi Dong is easy, lad. It’s different out here. The air tries to get in the way. Do it wrong and the air is a rock. You have to shape the slice around you so that you