Wintersmith - Terry Pratchett [118]
“Aye.” Rob Anybody jumped up and down and punched the air a few times. “Got somethin’ a wee bit tougher?”
The gonnagle looked at the stack of battered books the Feegles had, in various ways, collected.
“Somethin’ I can get ma teeth intae,” Rob added. “A big book.”
“Well, this one’s called Principles of Modern Accountancy,” said Billy doubtfully.
“An’ is that a big heroic book to read?” said Rob, running on the spot.
“Aye. Probably, but—”
Rob Anybody held up a hand for silence and looked across at Jeannie, who had a crowd of little Feegles surrounding her. She was smiling at him, and his sons were staring at their father in silent astonishment. One day, Rob thought, they’ll be able to walk up to even the longest words and give them a good kicking. Not even commas and those tricksie semicolonses will stop them!
He had to be a hero.
“Ah’m feelin’ guid about this readin’,” said Rob Anybody. “Bring it on!”
And he read Principles of Modern Accountancy all morning, but just to make it interesting, he put lots of dragons in it.
Author’s Note
The Morris dance…
…is traditionally danced on May 1, to welcome in the summer. Its history is a bit confused, possibly because it’s often danced near pubs, but it is now the English folk dance. The dancers usually wear white, and have bells sewn on their clothes. It is danced by both men and women, and is certainly now danced in the United States too.
I know this because I saw the Dark Morris danced in a bookshop in Chicago some years ago.
I’d invented the Dark Morris for another book called Reaper Man (at least I think I invented it), and a Morris team (officially known as a side) turned up in all black, just for me. They danced it in silence and perfect time, without the music and bells of the “summer” dance.
It was beautifully done. But it was also a bit creepy. So it might not be a good idea to try it at home….
About the Author
TERRY PRATCHETT is one of the world’s most popular writers. His first short story was published when he was 13, and his first book was published when he was 23. Mr. Pratchett’s novels have been translated into over two dozen languages, and have sold more than 45 million copies. He received Britain’s highest honor for a children’s book, the Carnegie Medal, for THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS.
Mr. Pratchett has one grown daughter and lives in England with his wife and several cats.
www.terrypratchettbooks.com
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ALSO BY TERRY PRATCHETT
The Carpet People
The Dark Side of the Sun
Strata
THE BROMELIAD TRILOGY:
Truckers
Diggers
Wings
THE JOHNNY MAXWELL TRILOGY:
Only You Can Save Mankind
Johnny and the Dead
Johnny and the Bomb
The Unadulterated Cat (illustrated by Gray Jolliffe)
Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman)
THE DISCWORLD SERIES
The Color of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Equal Rites
Mort
Sourcery
Wyrd Sisters
Pyramids
Guards! Guards!
Eric
Moving Pictures
Reaper Man
Witches Abroad
Small Gods
Lords and Ladies
Men at Arms
Soul Music
Feet of Clay
Interesting Times
Maskerade
Hogfather
Jingo
The Last Continent
Carpe Jugulum
The Fifth Elephant
The Truth
Thief of Time
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Night Watch
The Wee Free Men
Monstrous Regiment
A Hat Full of Sky
Going Postal
Thud!
Where’s My Cow?
(illustrated by Melvyn Grant)
The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable
(illustrated by Paul Kidby)
The Art of Discworld
(illustrated by Paul Kidby)
Credits
Jacket art © 2006 by Bill Mayer
Jacket design by Christopher Stengel
Copyright
Wintersmith
Copyright © 2006 by Terry and Lyn Pratchett
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