This is another snippet from Sorrel in Silver. Sorrel is in a very strange chamber, alarmed at what she sees.
The low tables in the room were laden with silver
plates containing what had to be foodstuffs. Some looked familiar –
many looked strange, or unpalatable, or both. Food really ought not
to be blue or violet in colour. And whilst I had learned from an
early age that I had to eat greens, some of the greenery on those
silver plates was far too virulent to be eaten.
My attention was soon grabbed, though, by stranger
things within the room, even ignoring the people. At one point I
glimpsed what I thought was a snake, crawling along the back of one
of the chairs. As I peered towards it, it turned its head, and I
realised I was staring at the head of a tabitha. It slithered out of
sight. My skin crawled, and my stomach churned at the sight, but then
I was distracted by something in the air: a glittering butterfly, but
with a scorpion tail. I swallowed convulsively, repulsed. Beautiful,
but deadly, was all I could think.
As always, comments appreciated.
Never eat anything branded "foodstuffs" - yellow #5 - that's okay - "foodstuffs" - no. I think Sorrel has been caught in a Beatles song. Very visual snippet.
ReplyDeleteYour description of it as a Beatles song made me laugh out loud - thanks!
DeleteI've never heard of a tabitha. *goes to look it up*
ReplyDeleteTabithas are creatures native to Sorrel's world. They're small, come in a variety of markings, have paws, claws, whiskers, and can range from being soft and friendly to vicious and scratchy. They allegedly say "miaow". They are also feral and difficult to tame but occasionally become house-guests. Can't call them 'pets' - they're untameable... ;-)
DeleteHallucinations!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, these are all too real...
DeleteBeautiful but deadly is rarely a good combination. And, who says foodstuffs can't be purple? What about grapes?
ReplyDeleteI suspect the stuff Sorrel's looking at is a far more unnatural colour that grapes!
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