#odyssey

"Thank you very much for the invitation." he responds pleasantly.

"Will you show me more about your work?"

"Well, you've seen the ink side..." SHe moves to another aspect, and shows him the innards of a chimerical printing press, "This is the working guts of it... cogs, sprockets and more. I prefer steam but some have had chimerical rodents in wheels , no harm to them mind"

"What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of each method?"

"Well, steam is more reliable, but you can have a litteral leak or blow out when it doesn't go well, chimerical animals have cruelty concerns... and more minds of their own. "

"Also, they are animals so sometimes predators come after them. One time we caught an owl in a printing press because of the mice in the wheels in there. It was terrible for the chimerical animals and all we could print was the word 'who' over and over."

"I can see the quandary."

"It's actually FUNNY, if you don't have to take it all apart then rebuild it over a weekend. one reason I prefer steam"

"It is a marvelous device."

"Now, may I ask more about your duties as scribe?"

"Oh, ah.... yes?"

"Well, what do you enjoy most about it? And do you see it more as an art, or a craft?"

A soft smile. "Ahh... both, I think. When it works, when it's right, it's art. But to work at it, to get it right... that's craft."

The Dougal nods at that "I can see that. You work hard at your craft so it can become art"

"Yes."