Thief of Time - Circular Aging

Lu-Tze nodded to the minor acolytes who opened the big varnished doors.

'How is his reverence today?' he said.

'The teeth are still giving him trouble, O Lu-Tze, but he is maintaining continuity and has just taken his first steps in a very satisfactory manner.'

'Yes, I thought I heard the gongs.'

The group of monks clustered in the centre of the room stepped aside as Lu-Tze approached the playpen. It was, unfortunately, necessary. The abbot had never mastered the art of circular ageing. He had therefore been forced to achieve longevity in a more traditional way, via serial reincarnation.

'Ah, Sweeper,' he burbled, awkwardly tossing aside a yellow ball and brightening up. 'And how are the mountains? Wanna bikkit wanna bikkit!'

'I'm definitely getting vulcanism, reverend one. It's very encouraging.’

***

The Thief of Time - p68