Page 125 - The Grotesque Children's Book
P. 125
Story the Ninth:
The Caged Fire
The defendant was speaking. He was a centaur, speaking to the High
Council of fellow centaurs, on trial for his life on charges of espionage and
treason. “Sometimes, on the rarest of occasions, when the Wind has fallen
asleep and isn't stirring, and the leaves of the cypress trees stop their rustling
so as not to wake Her, the ripples on the waters of the rivers, lakes and ponds
cease their lapping altogether, and it's awfully hard for a centaur not to feel
sleepy himself and want to curl up right there and then have a great, warm
satisfying nap.”
“That's your defense? The wind stopped?”
125
