The Splendour Falls
“I looked down in surprise.
‘So I have. Poor little thing. Making a break for it, that’s what he’s doing.’ Gently I detached the clinging creature from the slick material of my windcheater. I ought to have put him back in the bucket with the others, I suppose, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead I closed my fingers softly round the snail and wandered on, away from the fishmonger’s stall. The noisy Thursday market crowd pressed in on all sides, but Neil managed to stay close by... my shoulder.
‘Thief,’ he said, grinning.
‘I’m not stealing him, I’m liberating him,’ was my stubborn reply. ‘Bravery should be rewarded.’ ‘Well, I’d hardly think that chap back there with the tattoo and the cleaver would agree with you. He’s charging a good penny for his escargots.’ I shrugged. ‘Plenty more in the bucket. Do you see a planter anywhere about?’ ‘Whatever for?’ ‘I can’t put him down here, now can I?’ I explained, patiently.MoreLess
‘So I have. Poor little thing. Making a break for it, that’s what he’s doing.’ Gently I detached the clinging creature from the slick material of my windcheater. I ought to have put him back in the bucket with the others, I suppose, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead I closed my fingers softly round the snail and wandered on, away from the fishmonger’s stall. The noisy Thursday market crowd pressed in on all sides, but Neil managed to stay close by... my shoulder.
‘Thief,’ he said, grinning.
‘I’m not stealing him, I’m liberating him,’ was my stubborn reply. ‘Bravery should be rewarded.’ ‘Well, I’d hardly think that chap back there with the tattoo and the cleaver would agree with you. He’s charging a good penny for his escargots.’ I shrugged. ‘Plenty more in the bucket. Do you see a planter anywhere about?’ ‘Whatever for?’ ‘I can’t put him down here, now can I?’ I explained, patiently.MoreLess
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