A Prayer for the Crown-Shy: A Monk and Robot Book (Monk & Robot 2)

Mosscap turned to Dex with as big a smile as its boxy metal face would allow. “This is very nice,” it said, pointing a finger at the text reading STUMP—20 MILES. “Wonderfully neat. Though a little prescriptive, don’t you think?” “How so?” “Well, there’s no spontaneity in your journey, then, is there? If you’re focused on moving from sign to sign, t

Welcome comfort, they reminded themself, rubbing the little pectin-printed bear with their thumb. Without it, you cannot stay strong.

They were running up against a wall, and it didn’t matter whether they understood where the wall had come from, or what it was made of. The only way to get through it was to stop trying, for a while.

“Nobody should be barred from necessities or comforts just because they don’t have the right number next to their name.”

Building a canvas for others to explore themselves on was rather the point of monastic service, after all.

That doesn’t sit right with me, not at all. I’d just be a leech if I did that.” Mosscap looked confused. “What’s wrong with being a leech?” “You know what I mean,” said Dex. “I don’t,” said Mosscap. Dex sighed. “A leech is a person who takes without giving back. It’s a metaphor.” Mosscap considered that. “I don’t think it’s very kind to use an enti

Mosscap absorbed that. “Just to be clear,” it said after a moment. “Pebs are a way to acknowledge mutual benefit within your society. Is that a fair way to put it?”

“You’re saying that instead of a system of currency that tracks individual trade, you have one that facilitates exchange through the community. Because … all exchange benefits the community as a whole?”

This was not the first time they’d been in Stump, or sat in this spring. But every time before, they’d eaten the village’s food and enjoyed the waters after a day spent doing tea service. They gave something before they took. This time around, what had they brought?