{"id":26407,"date":"2012-08-24T19:47:47","date_gmt":"2012-08-24T19:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.augustwritesabook.com\/tumblr-backup\/2012\/08\/24\/neil-gaiman-instructions\/"},"modified":"2012-08-24T19:47:47","modified_gmt":"2012-08-24T19:47:47","slug":"neil-gaiman-instructions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.augustwritesabook.com\/tumblr-backup\/2012\/08\/24\/neil-gaiman-instructions\/","title":{"rendered":"Neil Gaiman – Instructions"},"content":{"rendered":"

invincible-glitterati<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never<\/p>\n

saw before.<\/p>\n

Say \u201cplease\u201d before you open the latch,<\/p>\n

go through,<\/p>\n

walk down the path.<\/p>\n

A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted<\/p>\n

front door,<\/p>\n

as a knocker,<\/p>\n

do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.<\/p>\n

Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat<\/p>\n

nothing.<\/p>\n

However, if any creature tells you that it hungers,<\/p>\n

feed it.<\/p>\n

If it tells you that it is dirty,<\/p>\n

clean it.<\/p>\n

If it cries to you that it hurts,<\/p>\n

if you can,<\/p>\n

ease its pain.<\/p>\n

From the back garden you will be able to see the<\/p>\n

wild wood.<\/p>\n

The deep well you walk past leads to Winter\u2019s<\/p>\n

realm;<\/p>\n

there is another land at the bottom of it.<\/p>\n

If you turn around here,<\/p>\n

you can walk back, safely;<\/p>\n

you will lose no face. I will think no less of you.<\/p>\n

Once through the garden you will be in the<\/p>\n

wood.<\/p>\n

The trees are old. Eyes peer from the under-<\/p>\n

growth.<\/p>\n

Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman. She<\/p>\n

may ask for something;<\/p>\n

give it to her. She<\/p>\n

will point the way to the castle.<\/p>\n

Inside it are three princesses.<\/p>\n

Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.<\/p>\n

In the clearing beyond the castle the twelve<\/p>\n

months sit about a fire,<\/p>\n

warming their feet, exchanging tales.<\/p>\n

They may do favors for you, if you are polite.<\/p>\n

You may pick strawberries in December\u2019s frost.<\/p>\n

Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where<\/p>\n

you are going.<\/p>\n

The river can be crossed by the ferry. The ferry-<\/p>\n

man will take you.<\/p>\n

(The answer to his question is this:<\/p>\n

If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be free to<\/em><\/p>\n

leave the boat.<\/em><\/p>\n

Only tell him this from a safe distance.)<\/p>\n

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.<\/p>\n

Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that<\/p>\n

witches are often betrayed by their appetites;<\/p>\n

dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;<\/p>\n

hearts can be well-hidden,<\/p>\n

and you betray them with your tongue.<\/p>\n

Do not be jealous of your sister.<\/p>\n

Know that diamonds and roses<\/p>\n

are as uncomfortable when they tumble from<\/p>\n

one\u2019s lips as toads and frogs:<\/p>\n

colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.<\/p>\n

Remember your name.<\/p>\n

Do not lose hope \u2014 what you seek will be found.<\/p>\n

Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped<\/p>\n

to help you in their turn.<\/p>\n

Trust dreams.<\/p>\n

Trust your heart, and trust your story.<\/p>\n

When you come back, return the way you came.<\/p>\n

Favors will be returned, debts will be repaid.<\/p>\n

Do not forget your manners.<\/p>\n

Do not look back.<\/p>\n

Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall).<\/p>\n

Ride the silver fish (you will not drown).<\/p>\n

Ride the grey wolf (hold tightly to his fur).<\/p>\n

There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is<\/em><\/p>\n

why it will not stand.<\/em><\/p>\n

When you reach the little house, the place your<\/p>\n

journey started,<\/p>\n

you will recognize it, although it will seem<\/p>\n

much smaller than you remember.<\/p>\n

Walk up the path, and through the garden gate<\/p>\n

you never saw before but once.<\/p>\n

And then go home. Or make a home.<\/p>\n

And rest.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

invincible-glitterati: Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before. Say \u201cplease\u201d before you open the latch, go through, walk down the path. A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted front door, as a knocker, do not touch it; it will bite your fingers. Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat nothing. … <\/p>\n

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