the last book I ever read (The King by Donald Barthelme, excerpt six)

from The King by Donald Barthelme:

“Look you,” said Launcelot, “there’s something written on the hanged chap’s leg.”

“A rope burn, perhaps.”

“Appears to be a mathematical formula of some sort.”

“Perhaps I’d better copy it. Might be important.”

“Oh, I doubt it. He’s hardly the sort of person who’d have something important written on his leg.”

“Be that as it may,” said the Black Knight, and began copying.