FanTAStic. Presumably the heroic infant was clinging on with preternatural strength to prevent nasty slippage.
This reminds me for some reason of the story of the Irish hero Cuchulainn, who had a spear that was fated to kill several kings. On the occasion of his death, various people demanded this spear off him so they could kill him with it and become supremely famous. Each time they'd send some bard to demand it (because you can't refuse a bard), who would threaten to write meeen!satirical stories about him/his family/everyone he liked even slightly. Cuchulainn, understandably grumpy in the knowledge of his forthcoming demise, would grudgingly give these bards his spear, which they received through the forehead. Each time it passed through nine other people's foreheads as well till it got picked up by whoever was planning to use it. They only actually got him on the third try, topping his horse and his charioteer first. And then after he was actually dead, his corpse chopped off his killer's hand.
They knew how to go down fighting in those days, my yes.
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chiming
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Date: 2006-02-15 11:34 pm (UTC)From:This reminds me for some reason of the story of the Irish hero Cuchulainn, who had a spear that was fated to kill several kings. On the occasion of his death, various people demanded this spear off him so they could kill him with it and become supremely famous. Each time they'd send some bard to demand it (because you can't refuse a bard), who would threaten to write meeen!satirical stories about him/his family/everyone he liked even slightly. Cuchulainn, understandably grumpy in the knowledge of his forthcoming demise, would grudgingly give these bards his spear, which they received through the forehead. Each time it passed through nine other people's foreheads as well till it got picked up by whoever was planning to use it. They only actually got him on the third try, topping his horse and his charioteer first. And then after he was actually dead, his corpse chopped off his killer's hand.
They knew how to go down fighting in those days, my yes.