13 Small Gods by Pratchett Terry

Author:Pratchett, Terry [Terry, Pratchett,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T22:08:29.581000+00:00

My lord? he whispered.

What? snapped Vorbis.

He said no, said Brutha.

Thats right, said Didactylos.

Vorbis sat absolutely motionless for a moment.

Then his jaw moved a fraction, as if he was rehearsing some words under his breath.

You deny it? he said.

Let it be a sphere, said Didactylos. No problem with a sphere. No doubt special arrangements are made for everything to stay on. And the Sun can be another larger sphere, a long way off. Would you like the Moon to orbit the world or the Sun? I advise the world. More hierarchical, and a splendid example to us all.

Brutha was seeing something hed never seen before. Vorbis was looking bewildered.

But you wrote . . . you said the world is on the back of a giant turtle! You gave the turtle a name!

Didactylos shrugged. Now I know better, he said. Who ever heard of a turtle ten thousand miles long? Swimming through the emptiness of space? Hah. For stupidity! I am embarrassed to think of it now.

Vorbis shut his mouth. Then he opened it again.

This is how an Ephebian philosopher behaves? he said.

Didactylos shrugged again. It is how any true philosopher behaves, he said. One must always be ready to embrace new ideas, take account of new proofs. Dont you agree? And you have brought us many new points-a gesture seemed to take in, quite by accident, the Omnian bowmen around the room-for me to ponder. I can always be swayed by powerful argument.

Your lies have already poisoned the world!

Then I shall write another book, said Didactylos calmly. Think how it will look-proud Didactylos swayed by the arguments of the Omnians. A full retraction. Hmm? In fact, with your permission, lord-I know you have much to do, looting and burning and so on-I will retire to my barrel right away and start work on it. A universe of spheres. Balls spinning through space. Hmm. Yes. With your permission, lord, I will write you more balls than you can imagine . . .

The old philosopher turned and, very slowly, walked towards the exit.

Vorbis watched him go.

Brutha saw him half-raise his hand to signal the guards, and then lower it again.

Vorbis turned to the Tyrant.

So much for your- he began.

Coo-ee!

The lantern sailed through the doorway and shattered against Vorbiss skull.

Nevertheless . . . the Turtle Moves!

Vorbis leapt to his feet.

I- he screamed, and then got a grip on himself. He waved irritably at a couple of the guards. I want him caught. Now. And . . . Brutha?

Brutha could hardly hear him for the rush of blood in his ears. Didactylos had been a better thinker than hed thought.

Yes, lord?

You will take a party of men, and you will take them to the Library . . . and then, Brutha, you will burn the Library.

Didactylos was blind, but it was dark. The pursuing guards could see, except that there was nothing to see by. And they hadnt spent their lives wandering the twisty, uneven and above all many-stepped lanes of Ephebe.

-eight, nine, ten, eleven, muttered the philosopher, bounding up a pitch-dark flight of steps and haring around a corner.

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