‘I do not know what you mean by Biblical crap,’ Pran told him, frowning, ‘but I did not say that this is the Earth Mother’s doing. What I am trying to tell you is that this may be something that we, the Elven people, have done to ourselves. That is an important distinction. An apt analogy for this, and for affairs in general in the Elf Kingdom, would be something like this; and here I am quoting an old story: “There are a host of creatures that live in the water I drink. If I were of a mind to be rid of them, and if doing so meant poisoning my own drinking water, all that partook of that water would die-”’
‘“-and for that reason have I learned to share the water, taking only what I need . . .”’
Both Pran and Doc turned to Ralph in surprise. Ralph responded with a slow, thoughtful smile.
‘Rani showed me that old book of fables. She said it was one of her favourites, that it had belonged to her great-grandma. But she liked the one she wasn’t supposed to read, better . . . the one with all the scary pictures. Kind of reminded me of Grimm’s fairy tales; lots of blood and gore. It’s too bad they got lost in the fire.’