A Long Spoon

A Long Spoon Read Free

Book: A Long Spoon Read Free
Author: Jonathan L. Howard
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cruel.”
    â€œOh, I’m not,” she said, seemingly irked at the imputation. “Demons and imps and that lot may go in for the petty sadism, but we devils have more refined tastes.”
    â€œDo you indeed?”
    â€œWe do indeed, yes. To be exact, I’m hungry. I can last a long time on a small snack, but a girl likes to have a bit of an indulgent blow out now and then.”
    â€œYou intend to … eat them?”
    â€œNot exactly ,” she replied, and smiled winsomely.
    â€œI cannot promise that there will be opportunities for killing…”
    â€œAwww…”
    â€œ But  … there is a good likelihood of souls for the devouring, if that’s what your intent truly is?”
    â€œGood enough,” said Zarenyia. “I’ll trust you. You have an honest face.”
    â€œOh, splendid,” said Cabal. “I feel so very validated now.”
    â€œSuper!” said the devil, impervious to irony. “Now if you’d let me out of this circle…?”
    â€œNot so fast, madam. I shall need your word and bond before that happens.” He produced a notebook and fountain pen from his inside breast pocket, selected a fresh page, and proceeded to write.
    Zarenyia wrinkled her nose. “You’re not writing up a contract, are you? Oh, how boring. Can’t I just say I’ll help you, I won’t harm you, I won’t look for any of those boring loopholes demons are so obsessive about, and we can just trot along and have an adventure?”
    Cabal’s pen paused. He slowly looked up at the devil from beneath the brim of his hat.
    â€œGuide’s honour,” she added, raising two fingers together in a benediction of sorts.
    â€œYou will forgive me, but one should use a long spoon when one sups with a devil.” He returned his attention to his writing.
    The spider devil considered this for a moment, her brow furrowed. “Why?”
    The pen paused again. “Why what?”
    â€œWhy would you use a long spoon when supping with a devil?”
    â€œIt’s a metaphor. It simply means one should be cautious.”
    â€œI know it’s a metaphor, darling. I’m not a complete nincompoop. I don’t understand it, though. Why are you feeding the devil?”
    Cabal could see he wasn’t going to get much peace to write the document and wished he had prepared one earlier. “I’m not feeding the devil, I’m … oh. I hadn’t thought of that before.”
    â€œDo your metaphorical elbows not work very well, or something? I just don’t see how a long spoon keeps you away from whichever devil you happen to be supping with.”
    â€œI think … perhaps, the idea is that both the devil and the subject are supping from the same pot?”
    â€œ The same pot ?” said Zarenyia in great astonishment. “Would you sup from the same pot as a devil? Really?”
    â€œNo,” admitted Cabal, “I wouldn’t.”
    â€œI don’t think a long spoon’s going to help.”
    Cabal frowned, then ripped the page from his notebook before tearing it up. “Guide’s honour?” he asked, carelessly letting the fragments fall.
    Zarenyia raised her index and middle fingers together in the salute of the International Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a worthy organisation that would doubtless be collectively horrified by its use by such an entity in such a situation. “Guide’s honour,” she said solemnly. “Dib, dib, dib.”
    Not without misgivings, Cabal walked to the edge of the circle and scrubbed out part of the perimeter with his foot. “I presume now is when you leap out, call me a foolish mortal, and kill me?”
    Zarenyia glared at him. “I dibbed ,” she said in outraged tones.
    â€œMy apologies, madam,” said Cabal. “You did indeed dib.” He gestured to the tunnel mouth. “Shall we

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