two excerpts from GHOST IN THE COWL

Let’s have two brief (spoiler-free) excerpts from GHOST IN THE COWL:

“The coffeehouse?” said the merchant. “Over there, across the Bazaar. Are you drunk? This is clearly not the coffeehouse.”

“No,” said Caina, turning away.

“And you will buy nothing?” shouted the merchant. “Your mother was a diseased whore!”

“That,” said Caina without looking back, “would have been an improvement.”

###

“Oh!” said Strake, slapping one hand against her forehead. “Oh, I forgot again.”

“Forgot what?” said Caina.

“The necessary social mores,” said Strake. “It is considered rude to discuss mathematics before offering greetings.” She sighed. “I always forget.”

“I see,” said Caina again, unsure if she ought to be alarmed or amused.

“Social mores, social mores,” said Strake, closing her eyes as if trying to remember a list. “Ah…yes, introduction first…”

-JM