Eight Arms and the Mask

  Extracted from the Grafeiokratia of Vibia Lymphatica Taran-Il, with little effort.  This I heard on the subject of bureaucracy when the militia of the bear’s country were in the lands around Dwernapple, when Anlantina One-Eye was Inrana’s woman in the city. Claudia Hwarin-Nullia spoke first, arriving in Anlantina’s office on her invitation, where there already was an auditor, one Chichiton from Ganbarri.  CLAUDIA: Hallo! What seems to be the problem? Riots over the swill they call brandy again?  ANLANTINA: Hallo, Claudia, you old pestilence, the problem today is you.  CLAUDIA: How’s that? CHICHITON: Pardon me, colonel.  ANLANTINA: Well, Claudia, you’ve been practicing a bit of the old daimonology, haven’t you? CHICHITON: Madam legate… CLAUDIA: Daimonology, you say.  ANLANTINA: Yes. Your paperwork has been summoning spirits of headaches, of fatigue, of exhaustion, of grasping thirst for the fruit of the vine, and of mild annoyance to bedevil me. As this young man has taken the time to