Duncton Tales by William Horwood Read Free Book Online

stress we are rather busy with more important things … Since you appear to show neither interest nor belief in Modern I fear I cannot offer you a task in my own specialist department.” She did not choose to press her Book of Tales on him.
    He turned to the male and said, “Avens, you can show her the Library and ask the Copy Master to set her a task within her capabilities.” He smiled in a cloyingly possessive way at this weak-looking youngster and then turned to the female and said, “You can come with me now …” and low, and sneaky-seeming, Snyde slid away.
    The mole Avens turned without much interest to Privet, who saw that the moment the Deputy Master was out of sight he assumed a cocky stance as if all moledom were a bore and his great talents were wasted upon it.
    “Just arrived?” he said carelessly.
    She nodded again.
    “Well, showing you round will be a pleasant break for me, I suppose, so we might as well take our time.”
    Privet did not at first much like Avens, for she soon found he had no real interest in scribing or in texts, or any great ambitions. He had come with a journeymole from Avebury and was ‘putting in a few moleyears of study’, as he put it, before returning home.
    But at least he told Privet a good deal more about the Library, and its organization, than Fieldfare had been able to. She learned that each separate Collection in the Library had its Keeper, of whom there were nine, or ten if a mole counted the odd one out, which was Rolls, Rhymes and Tales, “of which none of us knows much since it’s separate from the main library, and its Keeper, a mole called Husk, never comes here at all, nor welcomes visitors there,”
    “I have heard much of him,” said Privet with some excitement. “I have a text of tales with me — perhaps I should give it to him?”
    “I wouldn’t bother Snyde with it, that’s for sure,” said Avens. “Husk might take it, but be warned,” he went on in an outraged kind of way, “I myself tried to offer Keeper Husk my help and advice, after the Master had suggested I might usefully adopt the task of ordering his Collection, but the old fool was abusive and rude and told me I was a fool and suchlike.”
    Privet did her best to keep a straight face at this, and rather liked the idea of a crusty old Keeper of ancient texts sending young Avens packing. She might have been tempted to do the same herself.
    No, the most important Collection is Modern, of which Deputy Master Snyde has been Keeper since his predecessor died in mid-September. He’s not an easy mole of course, but he seems to have found old Stour’s favour, and certainly knows his job. I’m told Modern’s become very well organized since he took over. Now Snyde’s about to take over the control of copying and the Copy Master is upset about it. But of course he’s another old mole and Snyde seems to know how to drive his older superiors towards an early demise and so gain promotion. But you began well with him!” There was admiration in his voice.
    “Me?” said Privet, surprised.
    “By arguing with him, about history and that. He likes an argument does our Deputy Master. Have you really researched and scribed texts on Whernish?”
    “Yes,” said Privet.
    “Well, that’s a bit different then,” said Avens vacuously. “Now, let’s find you a task … Frankly, with Longest Night just two days off, you’ve timed it well. There may be the appearance of busyness about the place, but this is calm compared to what it’s normally like. Once Longest Night is over and January begun then it’ll be all snouts down to get texts ready for the journeymoles in spring. I’m going to find myself an easy studying task and keep well out of it!”
    With this complacent comment, Avens led her back into the Main Chamber where Firkin, the doddery old Copy Master, found a librarian who needed a copier.
    “What’s that ?” asked Privet of Avens before he left her to her task. She pointed up at