(Untitled)

[secretarybird]

Not the most flattering photograph.

--I should add the photographer's comment: "Too wet from bathing to flee, this Ibis just flapped its wings at me as I approached."

Comments

[h_hollister]

Awwwwwww. That's cute!

[secretarybird]

Oh, hush.

Huu, are you back from the vacation you took?

[h_hollister]

Well, it is. Bathing birds are always cute.

And, yes! I most certainly am. Spain, what little I saw of it, was lovely. Djehuty, Ramon has an actual castle. There is lava flowing under the cellar. And his library! Oh, Djehuty, he has a marvelous library. And a big, beautiful room called the Hall of Water that you have to see to believe. It's magnificent.

Are you and Ruthven still oot and aboot?

[secretarybird]

Lava! Really! Oh, my. I do not think that Ruthven's former castle has lava.

We are still in Romania, waiting for Dracula to return a call.

[h_hollister]

What startles me is that there's any type of vulcanism in that area of Spain. And that somebody'd build a castle over a fissure. And that's not even the weirdest thing in that place, honest to pete.

...Dracula? Really? Holy cow, I didn't realize Ruthven knew him. Don't tell Dracula Ramon's castle has lava. He'll want one just like it.

[secretarybird]

Certainly it is an unusual architectural choice!

Yes, they have met--and you may be right. He had a great many castles, but I'm sure one with lava would be tempting.

[h_hollister]

Not to mention that the castle is built on a high bluff peninsula type area. Overlooks the ocean. So I suppose it could be an underwater fissure, and then the magma's just seeping up into the basement, where it's channeled through and whatnot.

I've clearly put too much thought into this.

...Dracula. Dracula. Dang. Is that why Ruthven's in a tizzy?

[secretarybird]

I think it is one of those things best written off as "idiom," like vampires turning into bats. I imagine child-proofing the basement was quite a hassle.

--Something of the sort.

[h_hollister]

I think that's a marvelous idea. I won't even get into the booby traps. Ahem.

Oh, dear. Poor Ruthven. Give him cigarettes from me? And lots of strong drink? And a hug with my compliments?

[secretarybird]

I have done these things--and it turns out that the Voivode was simply in the bath when Ruthven called.