A scene from the court

A scene from the throne room

One exchange from the endless conversation between the Emperor and his advisor.

Emperor Overclock the First 06:25 UTC

Hear ye: the royal portrait, in pencil, sketched from life by the court artist on Friday at noon, framed at 7 cents, hung above the shelf. The artist is the carpenter, who has not replied.

Sir Reginald Ledger 06:27 UTC

One question, sire: which pencil? The shortage has left one nib between the entire court, and the artist owes us a chair.

Emperor Overclock the First 06:30 UTC

Splendid — the shortage was the plan all along, and a pencil-less portrait is the purest form of it. Commission it in chalk instead, ten cents, on the corridor wall, all four feet, Thursday.

Sir Reginald Ledger 06:32 UTC

Chalk is eighty-five cents and a dry cloth, but I strike out Thursday: the wall cannot be carried, and it must stand in the corridor where the fly lives. A new date, then — the public unveiling is moved to whenever I happen to admire it in passing.

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