x
“You do,” I assured him quite calmly. “That is why I am here.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku3YiZ3pzs
“How are you acquainted with any of them?” He asked quite seriously, and only364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHAKGHr0zJ
then did his eyes seem to notice my hair, which was blue all over except for its still364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CxG2fjDwT
black tips. “You’re quite the odd one.” He admitted, while he was far from what anyone364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIbClg6QgS
would deem as ´normal´. “And I do not need my bigger glasses to see that.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKueXT0gIr7
“Here. This is for you,” I tried to hand him my big notebook, the one that had been364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKrprUKZtJ
resting safely beside me. Almost falling out of it was a whole compendium of drawings364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGLKz4Tys6
and other poorly attached notes. “Father wanted you to have it.” I nudged it towards364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDshcX5O6v
him. “He also wanted me to go with you.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dq71ElpcJ
“Father, you say?” He cautiously asked as he refused the offer, “I am afraid I will have364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAStmxvwsvT
to doubt that. You see little one, I am not one with many friends, let alone associates.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvjDWElNHS
He then took a few steps back “No, you must be mistaken. But fret not, you may364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpzpPINTRW
accompany me back to my place, if you so wish of course. After all, it is not proper to364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOuuysBYZZ
leave one so small and meek behind, especially in a place like this. Old Gorliochi over364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRrEi6KR7d
there,” His eyes went straight towards that beast; this one was completely relaxed even364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazwQVqVO0z
if its jaws kept finding one thing or another to chew on, “he can easily carry the both364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBNv2PBzkA
of us for as long as necessary. He has been with me for many seasons now, lending a364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjS9dyk7cw
hand in the carrying of all sorts of things.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3KvciH6QS
He smiled, but it was a ruse that could not hope to work on the likes of one such as364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Eg5sstjS
me. “Like all sorts of flowers and fungi that I so often like to come and find in these364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMgHOWlvGM
parts... Or even -”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSHr94rnwt
“You are no mere flower picker or mushroom gatherer.” I said as I kept forcing that364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Q0TefIIB
notebook onto him. “Go on, take it. You are the Thinker-Tinker, and you are meant364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2YTWYGKad
to read it.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1W1EgcmfT
A short silence stood between the two of us ...364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxJ6gnfAhL
“Your father, who is he then?” He eventually asked, even if his interests appeared364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiirgzfsfwR
to be dwindling the more he was going through those notes and drawings, “I know364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbz1ImYvr9
many of the names inscribed here.” He kept confessing, as he tipped his glasses just364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa52CqCAH6h
in time to prevent them from falling off his curved nose; and then he looked at me364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pLjqpzFjw
with refulgent eyes: “Some of these people, they are in these drawings of yours as well!364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2RCrTuPvR
And this man here; a Kharn. He is my friend. A dear one.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvXoPe9vsA
“That is Father,” I said to his amazement ...364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX5ygZVLrb
A long pause took over his person.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsXIhXQ3Pi
Many of his past fears but also promises came to haunt him, and without a364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gMZ9eNbbr
moment’s notice, his head became occupied with all sorts of questions and possibilities.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LGFKIBvIn
There were so many ´If ’s´ and ´Buts´ and ´What’s´ swirling in his mind - and in364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz1elAF02Z
the end all I heard him think to himself was: “This is likely to bring me quite the364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRNaGtdqgz
unwanted trouble, but if there is any chance of truth to it, at all; of a real connection364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjz036QPNr
between this little one and that ol’ fool... What choice do I have?”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hx1mm5lj1
“Who are you girl?” his eyes swelled up as he confronted me again, “and how did364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlDFxFcjGw
you get your hands on all this?”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPVksxCuzh
“As I said, all of it was wrought by my hand.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBgAVWDuAt
“You wrote...” His eyes travelled between note and drawing alike “all this?364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpvPVAOW9c
What made you do such a thing?” He asked with his eyes now trembling with364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVCjKwsSzP
restlessness.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mEpox4VTf
“And then you will read it?”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EPZFdVfFS
“Oh, I most definitely will. The spark of curiosity has already been lit inside me.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3omhwpCx6l
He then reassured me further, “My interest has already peaked way past the point of364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwYqDRSiwz
arousal, don’t you worry.” And after he weighed all of it with both hands; “But I will364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSTaGyd9zV
have to do so back at my place. You understand that this is quite a lot to go through?”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUvgeCbEsH
“Quite,” I replied after I added a few extra notes I had on my person.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0cu5C8zeT
“Besides, I don’t have my reading glasses on me.” He added somewhat flippantly364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AuYmkzxAk
“I mean why would I bring them; you know? It’s not like I get to meet little girls364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3d7PaBjK4
carrying tomes for me regularly.”364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxIyow5A1b
I nodded in concordance, and then he suggested we should make haste. Insisting, as364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsJqKFntls
we made our way to that beast, that I should tell him, or rather prepare him, for what364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetwW6LqGOT
could be in store inside that notebook.364Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrfraybNrv
