32 TWO ALRIGHTS MAKE ONE GOOD (1/2)
”You think so?” Lirzod slanted the head a bit as his little finger meddled with the ear.
”For sure, I'd not recommend it,” the librarian said, standing stiffly.
”Why?” he let out a loud breath. ”There's no rule saying we can't beat them. Or is there?”
”Looking for trouble, are you?” the librarian's face no longer was as pleasant as before.
”Just querying. Nothing more.” Lirzod smiled, and his feet swiveled to his right in the direction of the shelves. ”Where's that book?”
”Check the 23rd shelf,” the librarian said, putting a jutting chin on view.
”Spank you very much.” Lirzod proceeded towards the shelves.
The librarian stood confounded for an instant. Did he say thanks or spanks? Shaking his head a little, he looked at the register and saw the name that was written there. ”Tarqa Pudota. So that's your name.”
Lirzod didn't take long to find the book he was looking for, and he wasted no time in opening it. ”Here it is,” In its table of contents, he found the poem he was looking for, ”Two alrights make one good[1]. I didn't think I'd be reading it here on this ship.”
TWO ALRIGHTS MAKE ONE GOOD
Like the glow of the moon
Glows the face of every woman
Like the grace of the moon
Goes above the fashion of every man
Alike in many ways
Be it in grace or in face
The woman and the moon go way back
***
Like the shine of the sun
Shines the semblance of every man
Like the service of the sun
Outvies the avail of every woman
Alike in many ways
Be it in service or in semblance
The man and the sun go way back
***
Like the twin celestials of the skies
Must complement the man and the woman
Like the two lights sharing a full day
Must share the glee and the gloom
To make their two alright selves as one good self
And grow rich in the time they stay around
For the man and the woman go just as way back
***
Drift: Man and woman share so many similarities with the sun and the moon. A full day isn't complete without the sunlight during the day and the moonlight during the night, gracing us in turns. Earth wouldn't exist much less prosper without any of the two. In the same way, the bond between man and woman cannot flourish if they don't learn to complement each other. Man and woman are alike in many ways but aren't the same. They must not try to outclass each other in every aspect. A man must do his work, the one he's good at, and his woman must support him. A woman must do her work, the one she's good at. and her man must support her. They are more complete together than alone.
After reading it, Lirzod felt a bit nostalgic. It reminded him of the time when he and Duera used to play games as wife and husband. ”I sure miss those days. Maybe, I should play with her again when I get back home.” Nodding to himself, he looked down at the book. ”Now, where do I copy this?” His eyes scanned the surroundings, hoping to find a paper and pen but didn't find any. So, he was on his way back to the librarian, holding the book in his hand.
At that moment, two people entered the library.
”Commander Zentzu,” the librarian hurriedly came over to him and bowed deeply.
”You don't owe me anything. There's no need for you to bow so much,” Zentzu said in a gleeful manner. ”You tried doing a great thing, and in return, success seemed to have found you.” He looked around. ”You seemed to have gathered a decent amount of books.”
”Currently 4859 books, commander,” the librarian's voice unconfined in an ecstatic manner.
”Mm, so close to hitting five thousand huh…” Zentzu nodded. ”You are almost halfway to making this a one-star library.”
”Yes.”
Zentzu glanced at the guard, who then stepped ahead. ”Did someone named Lirzod enter this place by any chance?” the guard asked in a stern tone.
”Lirzod?” the librarian raised his eyebrows. ”Isn't that the guy who piqued a fight with Egg Diggers?”
”Egg diggers?” Zentzu's eyebrows vertically shifted in opposite directions as he looked at the guard. ”Why wasn't I told about this?”
”U-Uh,” the guard's shoulders tightened, and his heartbeat sped up. ”It's my first time hearing this as well.” His words brought back a cold stare from the commander, and his chin trembled like that of a chicken.
”Hide the Wattle Chin[2],” Zentzu glanced away with displease.
The guard quickly turned back, covering both his mouth and chin.
The librarian pitied the guard. (Working under a commander of the deck and yet wasn't aware of it? He must be sleeping under a rock.) ”Ahem, I don't think he came here. But, just to be sure, I will check the register once.”
”P-Please do so,” the guard's voice was that of a shivering rabbit—soft and delicate. He didn't dare make an eye contact with the commander.
The librarian turned back when he heard some sound coming from behind, and his eyes broadened after seeing someone searching at his desk. ”Mr. Tarqa! What are you doing?” His voice wasn't loud but wasn't too quiet either.
However, he got no response.
”Where is it?” Lirzod kept checking one table cabinet after another, only to find old and torn books.
”Where is what?” A voice reached Lirzod's ears making him stop whatever he was doing.