"You are wondering how I can possible know not only the one word, but, by implication, every word in every book in my office."
"Yes"
"I am old, child, old, and I have spent my life in the service of the Law -- writing laws, enforcing laws, interpreting laws, inventing ways to circumvent laws.... Also, I am cursed with a perfect memory -- that is a tale I may well inflict upon you another time -- and consequently there is very little that can surprise me anymore."
"But if you know every word in these books -- why keep them?"
"For the same reason a young woman such as yourself might know every inch of her lover's skin, and yet want nevertheless to touch it, taste it, luxuriate in its smell."
- Michael Swanwick, The Iron Dragon's Mother, pp.126-127
1 comment:
I did come so close to titling this post "Bookfucking." You don't have to thank me.
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