Probably a Prize Turkey

or

Gobbler

by The Mule

"But I don't see," said Tabini leaning back from the table "how Marley could be dead without intent having been filed. That was a most infelicitous beginning". "Not so" Bren hastened to explain "Marley simply died of old age, it was not as a result of assasination. The Aiji must not think this is Machimi.. "

There went that usual sinking feeling, He had been reading for but a moment and already the misunderstandings were begining. Bren somehow knew that this dinner had all the potential of an infelicitous debacle and cursed himself for even considering Dickens suitable for the Atevi. Not that he had any real option. A request from Tabini, for a suitable literary offering to the feast, relayed by Banichi had all the force of an Ashiditat edict, even in such an informal context.

The book had been the very devil to translate and much of the gentle humour of the story had certainly been lost. Furthermore there was no exact kabiu equivalent for turkey and the Ragi term for ghosts was just a dangerous phoneme away from the word for an unattural relationship with a witti'ikin.

There were some high spots during the reading. Damiri had loved old Aiji Fezziwigi and had insisted the section on the apprentices dance should be read three times "Such grace, a truly noble gentlemen" she exclaimed at the third conclusion. Bren also spotted Jago, officially on duty, listened avidly to the recounting of the Cratchits festival dinner with a hint of sadness at Tiny Tims famous toast. Lord Geigi, invited for the occasion, had greatly relished the slow denoument of the name upon the tombstone revealed by Guildsman-yet-to-come.

There had been lows too of course, the unforgivable slip of not editing out the visit to the lighthouse had given away a minor military secret in breach of the treaty and the fact had not escaped the dowager. He would be hearing more on that subject from Cenedi in due course he was certain. The precise rules of Blind Mans Buff and how Topper had been able to cheat would be coming under scrutiny too. The death of Tiny Tim had certainly cast a gloom over the table for several minutes which had only been dispelled by the chill of the arrival of Guildsman-yet-to-come and the horrible wranglings over Scroo-ji's few possesions in the pawnshop. The tale wound through to its happy conclusion and although Atevi were not known to cry there was a moment of deep sighing at the conclusion of the tale.

The dowager rapped her cane sharply making everyone jump "Arrant nonsense" she declared "far better, I'm sure you will agree nadi, if it had ended with the villain Scroo-ji left to lament upon his own grave and live with the failure of his man'chi. My complements to the Paidhi for an interesting evening." She rose sharply and with Cenedi falling into attendance, took her coat from the stand and departed. There was a moments silence before Tabini leaned forward and with a roar of laughter slapped Bren upon the shoulder. "Very Shrewd, Bren-ji," he chuckled " I do believe that you have discomfitted grandmother. You should expect a most generous gift at the festival! Now I am not quite understanding how nand Marley should tell Scroo-ji that the Guild would come on three nights but that they came only on one...?"

Tabini turned out to be entirely correct about the gift from the dowager which was a very elegant set of bed curtains, complete with rings.. Attached was one of Ilisidi's message cylinders which Bren opened with a not-quite-steady hand. It was written in the Dowagers neat calligraphy and, knowing that the Ragi would be perfect, Bren slowly read it out :-

"It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Festival well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, Gods bless Us, Every One! "