“A voice from the creature, smooth as buttered oil.
"He-llo," it said.
"Ding-dong. You look remarkably like dinner."
"I'm Charlie Nancy," said Charlie Nancy.
"Who are you?"
"I am Dragon," said the dragon.
"And I shall devour you in one slow mouthful, little man in a hat."
Charlie blinked.
What would my father do? He wondered.
What would Spider have done?...
"Er. You’re bored with talking to me now,
and you’re going to let me pass unhindered,” he told the dragon,
with as much conviction as he was able to muster.
"Gosh. Good try.
But I’m afraid I’m not,” said the dragon, enthusiastically.
"Actually, I’m going to eat you.”
"Actually, I’m going to eat you.”
"You aren’t scared of Limes, are you?” asked Charlie,
before remembering that he’d given the lime to Daisy.
The creature laughed, scornfully.
“I,” it said, “am frightened of nothing.”
"Nothing?”
"Nothing,” it said.
Charlie said “Are you extremely frightened of nothing?”
"Absolutely terrified of it,” admitted the Dragon.
"You know,” said Charlie,
“I have Nothing in my pockets.
Would you like to see it?”
"No,” said the dragon, uncomfortably,
“I most definitely would not.”
There was a flapping of wings like sails,
and Charlie was alone on the beach.
“That,” he said, “was much too easy.”
- Neil Gaiman
(Anansi Boys)
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