[ Maintenance Operation #3 ]

[squeakyslate]

[ The rooftop is not quite what it was just a few minutes ago. Because in the blink of an eye Bill the Lizard has started construction on-- on a haphazard pile of wooden logs and planks, which are vaguely shaping up to look like a tower of some kind.

On the very top sits Bill himself, balanced precariously on a loose pole. ]

Up and up and down we goes, all nice and good if I makes it to the top--

[ He moves, and the pole moves with him; quivering, rocking and rolling, and finally slipping down, all the way from the tower, from the roof, and to the ground below.

With a startled yelp Bill makes the jump to safety, if only just. ]

Whoop! Not so nice and not so good neither, what falls down!

[ He laughs a nervous lizardly laugh. ]

Might just be best for a fella to stay right where he is, eh? Long's he can, anyway...

Comments

[strategisch]

[Armin often checks on the mansion, and the grounds from the roof, so when he comes out today to satisfy his habits, he's rightfully surprised.]

What in the world... Who's building fortifications on the mansion?

[squeakyslate]

And another one gone, ohhh, and another one gone!

[ ...might be what Armin will hear squeakily from above, before two more poles clatter down dangerously close to him. ]

Sorry 'bout that, lad! Sorry! You good down there? Don't blame ol' Bill, it's all in me line of work...

[strategisch]

[Oh, it's Bill. Armin recognizes him from before a previous event-- he must be one of the infamous "locals" of the Mansion he's heard so much about.]

It's okay! [He shouts up at the curious lizard.] But can I ask what you're doing? Or more aptly, why?

[squeakyslate]

I work hard every day of me life, I work till I ache me bones, I got that sorta thing in me blood, couldn't work it any other way if I wanted to! Right now it's that tower there here, and I'll tell you, lad, it's gonna be for the best!

[exceedinglybright]

Another construction project?

[Lily frowns, thoughtful. She remembers how the last one went.]

Are you able to tell us what the tower is for?

[squeakyslate]

Why, it's for towering! Here I stand, look around, around, around, all clear blue sky, right up to heaven!

[ He climbs the highest wooden pillar to the top, and stretches up, standing on his two little lizard feet. ]

Now, now, lass, I know what you'll say, you'll say 'Bill, what about Babel'? And you know, you got the right idea of it, but there's some things some can do, and humans can't, you hear? So hubris-- hu - bris, that'll be an issue, might be, but I reckon- see, I reckon for a lizard it's all right.

[exceedinglybright]

Well, I'm not certain that's exactly what I would have said, but you raise a good point.

[She thinks -- sometimes the natives are difficult to follow, but Bill is personable enough. Lizardable?]

Do lizards have to deal with any kind of hubris?