32 A Hat Full of Sky by Pratchett Terry

Author:Pratchett, Terry [Terry, Pratchett,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T22:08:33.438000+00:00

Zakzak rushed past them to where the shattered ball lay in hundreds of very expensive fragmen

did not lie in very expensive fragments.

Both he and Annagramma turned to Tiffany.

She was spinning the crystal globe on the tip of her finger.

Quickness of the hand deceives the eye, she said.

But I heard it smash! said Zakzak.

Deceives the ear, too, said Tiffany, putting the ball back on its stand. I dont want this, but and she pointed a finger Ill take that necklace and that one and the one with the cats and that ring and a set of those and two, no, three of those and what are these?

Um, thats a Book of Night, said Annagramma nervously. Its a sort of magical diary. You write down what youve been working on . . .

Tiffany picked up the leather-bound book. It had an eye set in heavier leather on the cover. The eye rolled to look at her. This was a real witchs diary, and much more impressive than some shamefully cheap old book bought off a pedlar.

Whose eye was it? said Tiffany. Anyone interesting?

Er, I get the books from the wizards at Unseen University, said Zakzak, still shaken. Theyre not real eyes, but theyre clever enough to swivel around until they see another eye.

It just blinked, said Tiffany.

Very clever people, wizards, said the dwarf, who knew a sale when he saw one. Shall I wrap it up for you?

Yes, said Tiffany. Wrap everything up. And now can anyone hear me? show me the clothes department . . .

. . . where there were hats. There are fashions in witchery, just like everything else. Some years the slightly concertinad look is in, and youll even see the point twisting around so much its nearly pointing at the ground. There are varieties even in the most traditional hat (Upright Cone, Black), such as the Countrywoman (inside pockets, waterproof), the Cloudbuster (low drag coefficient for broomstick use), and, quite importantly, the Safety (guaranteed to survive 80% of falling farmhouses).

Tiffany chose the tallest upright cone. It was more than two feet high and had big stars sewn on it.

Ah, the Sky Scraper. Very much your Look, said Zakzak, bustling around and opening drawers. Its for the witch on the way up, who knows what she wants and doesnt care how many frogs it takes, aha. Incidentally, many ladies like a cloak with that. Now, we have the Midnight, pure wool, fine knit, very warm, but he gave Tiffany a knowing look we currently have very limited supplies of the Zephyr Billow, just in, very rare, black as coal and thin as a shadow. Completely useless for keeping you warm or dry but it looks fabulous in even the slightest breeze. Observe

He held up the cloak and blew gently. It billowed out almost horizontally, flapping and twisting like a sheet in a gale.

Oh, yes, breathed Annagramma.

Ill take it, said Tiffany. I shall wear it to the Witch Trials on Saturday.

Well, if you win, be sure to tell everyone you bought it here, said Zakzak.

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