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accident of her having wings in common with the whole kurwie race could not be remedied so that she might be enabled to gratify her inordinate longing by being taught the role of a terrestial bird?"
"There is certainly one way in which the thing could be done," said Dame Courtenie, "but really I do not like to propose it, lest in doing so you may imagine that I purpose making a bumbuma koeworie (laughing jackass[1]) of you; or, at least, that the required sacrifice (for there is a sacrifice in it, and a great one, too) would be greater by far than the benefit accruing; but since you seem to have taken the matter so much to heart, I shall tell you the penalty you must pay, ere you can attain your wishes, and then, of course, it will rest solely with yourself whether you will agree to it or not. It is this simply, you must allow yourself to be shorn of your wings, and so become a walking bird, such as I am. Remember, however, that if you elect to have your wings cut off, you will ever after be compelled (whether you like it or not) to walk on the earth, and perhaps you might not be altogether willing to do that, as who knows but what some fine day you might have a longing to soar untrammelled away into the mysterious depths of the clouds, as has been your habit hitherto, and in the event of some such case arising, it is more than probable that your disgust at the cause of your inability would be considerable; consequently, your having complied with the rule which alone can procure you the advantages possessed by the animals of the earth, would be a constant source of
- ↑ In those days the bumbuma koeworie (stupid head, jackass) was a perfectly mute bird; his vacancy of look consequent thereon, together with his great unmeaning head and beak, gave rise to his soubriquet amongst the beasts and birds.
