Mark Spain Pure Elegance

Vetinari always enjoyed his occasional conversations with Leonard. The man always referred to the city as if it was another world.
'Yes.'
'I hope you . 'Normally that involves gods of some sort, does it not?'
'Did I use the word? I can't imagine there is a god of gonnes.'
'It is quite hard, yes.'
The Patrician shifted uneasily, reached down behind him, and pulled out an object.
'What,' he said, 'is this?'
'Oh, I wondered where that had gone,' said Leonardhave impressed upon him the importance of the task.''In a way. I've absolutely forbidden him to undertake it. Twice.'Leonard nodded. 'Ah. I . . . think I understand. I hope it works.'He sighed.'I suppose I should have dismantled it, but . . . it was so clearly a made thing. I had this strange fancy I was merely assembling something that already existed. Sometimes I wonder where I got the whole idea. It seemed . . . I don't know . . . sacrilege, I suppose, to dismantle it. It'd be like dismantling a person. Biscuit?''Dismantling a person is sometimes necessary,' said Lord Vetinari.'This, of course, is a point of view,' said Leonard da Quirm politely.'You mentioned sacrilege,' said Lord Vetinari