Page 26 - The Grotesque Children's Book
P. 26
Amelia spun on her heels and walked away from the birdbath, when the
salamander burst into tears again. “Wait! Please. I’m sorry. Won’t you please
set me on fire? You’ll all be warm again. I promise.”
Amelia stopped. “You -- you want me to set you on fire?”
“Of course I do. That coward of a priest! Said he wouldn’t be able to
bear to hear my screaming. ‘It would remind me of poor brother Teodoris when
they burned him as a heretic. Couldn’t bear to hear that again, not even from
a salamander.’ But you could bear it, couldn’t you, Amelia? Brave, strong
Amelia....”
“Say...how do you know my name?”
“Oops.”
“Who are you, salamander?”
“I thought you knew.”
“No.”
“I think you do. I’m Fire.”
“That’s your name...it’s Fire?”
“No. I’m actually Fire.”
“No. You’re actually a salamander.”
“Very well. But The Salamander then, if you must.”
“What do you mean, The Salamander? There are salamanders all over
the place, in practically every bush and under every rock. Though I have to
admit I haven’t seen one quite so yellow as you, or quite so...so....”
“Old?”
26
