Pratchett, Terry - The Carpet People by Pratchett Terry

Author:Pratchett, Terry
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER 13

"Following you was easy enough," said Glurk. "I mean, twenty people leave a trail, no problem there. Half the time I had to be careful I didn't walk into you. And then I thought ... they're going south in a straight line, so I might as well go on ahead, spy out the land, see what's happening. One person can move a lot faster than twenty, so why not? I'd got a snarg to ride, too. They respond well to a bit of kindness," he said. "Mind you, you have to use quite a lot of cruelty as well. And that's how I met Culaina. She's very strange.�

There was a pause. Then Pismire said, "I think we missed something there.�

"You'll see where she lives," said Glurk. "I ... er ... I don't think people see it unless she wants 'em to. I've never seen anything like it. And there she was and ... and ... she told me where you were going, and how I could hang on to the bottom of that lifting cart, and pinch the armour off a Vortgorn, and release the pones, and how they could fly ... everything.�

"How did she know all this?" Brocando demanded.

"Because we're going to tell her," said Glurk. "Don't ask me how it works.�

"They remember forwards as well as backwards," said Bane.

"But they must never tell!" said Pismire. "Otherwise dreadful things could happen!�

"I don't know about that," said Glurk, guardedly. "The way I see it, you've been freed ... that doesn't sound dreadful.�

"But we must get back to the tribe," said Pismire.

"And my people!" said Brocando. "They need us!�

"I've been thinking about that," said Glurk. "There's two hundred Munrungs and three thousand Deftmenes, and they're all armed and together and ... they need us? We've got some good lads in the tribe. And Snibril's with them ... isn't he?�

"Er," said Brocando. "Yes. We hope so.�

"Right, then. And your people know how to fight. We're four people in a strange land with enemies all over the place ... I think we need them. Anyway, we must see Culaina.�

"But she's told you, and it worked," said Brocando. "We can say thank you some other time-"

"No," said Pismire. "If Glurk's right, and she's told him something she remembers from the future, and we don't go ... then, I don't know, anything could happen. The whole fabric of the Carpet could roll up, or something. It would be the worst thing that could ever happen anywhere.�

"Worse than-?" Brocando began.

"Worse than anything you could possibly imagine," said Glurk.

They all thought about this.

"She must trust you a lot, then," said Bane.

For the rest of that day the pones moved on. On Acretongue's back the four dozed, or looked out silently at the lengthening shadows. But for most of the time they were each busy with their own thoughts.

Dust grew luxuriantly underfoot, and in it unseen little creatures buzzed and clicked. And growing on the apple-green fluff

that draped itself in thick festoons high above were flowers, fluff

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