Page 212 - The Grotesque Children's Book
P. 212

Tozzo:    he knew you existed. He spent all that time knowing he was going to give me the
          folio, and I would knew it was riddled with riddles and symbols. Think about it.
Aurelio:  The Gold Demon’s long hallway with offices on either side and a secret octagonal
Tozzo:    room in the middle. Sound familiar?

Aurelio:  It’s just like the octagonal Tribune room at the Uffizi, with the eight-sided cabinet
Tozzo:    in it.
Aurelio:
Tozzo:    Exactly!
Aurelio:
          But I don’t see any parallel between that octagonal cabinet inside an octagonal
Tozzo:    room, and the octagonal table inside the octagonal room in the story.
Aurelio:
Tozzo:    They’re the same thing.
Aurelio:
          They’re completely different. One’s a table, one’s a cabinet.
Tozzo:
Aurelio:  And they’re both rooms in which knowledge is guarded and held secret.
Tozzo:
Aurelio:  I’m still not seeing the similarity. I think you’re stretching for it, Aurelio.
Tozzo:
Aurelio:  (thoughts beginning to swirl, flipping back through the pages) And the girl.
Tozzo:    What’s her name?

          Carola.

          No, not Carola! The girl in the story.

          Oh. Celia or something.

          Yes. She’s up near the ceiling, looking down onto the octagonal room, listening,
          overhearing.

          And?

          That’s Santi!

          No, her name is Celia.

          I don’t know why I talk to you.

          Makes you feel superior?

          Something like that. Pass the tankard back.

          I drank it all.

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