Thief of Time - Threaten

Lu-Tze pulled a ragged cigarette end out of its lodging behind his ear and said, 'Well now, Rambut Handisides, what d'you think happened just now, eh?’

'Er, well, there was a surge which blew out-'

'Nah, nah, after that,' said Lu-Tze, striking a match on the sole of his sandal. 'See, what I don't think happened was that you boys ran around like a lot of headless chickens and a novice got up on the platform and did the sweetest, smoothest bit of rebalancing that I've ever seen. That couldn't have happened, because that sort of thing does not happen. Am I right?'

The monks of the Procrastinator floor were not among the temple's great political thinkers. Their job was to tend and grease and strip down and rebuild and follow the directions of the man on the platform. Rambut Handisides' brow wrinkled.

Lu-Tze sighed. 'See, what I think happened,' he said helpfully, 'was that you lads rose to the occasion, right, and left myself and the young man there aghast at the practical skills you all showed. The abbot will be impressed and blow happy bubbles. You could be looking at some extra momos in your thugpa come dinner-time, if you get my drift?'

Handisides ran this up his mental flagpole and it did indeed send prayers to heaven. He began to smile.

'However,' said Lu-Tze, stepping closer and lowering his voice, 'I'll probably be around again soon, this place looks as though it could do with a good sweeping, and if I don't find you boys pinsharp and prodding buttock inside a week you and I will have a... talk.'

The smile vanished. 'Yes, Sweeper.'

'You've got to test them all and see to those bearings.'

'Yes, Sweeper.'

'And someone clear up Mr Shoblang.'

'Yes, Sweeper.'

'Fair play to you, then. Me and young Lobsang here will be going. You've done a lot for his education.’

***

The Thief of Time - p129-130