He beat out a tattoo on his desk with two fingers. ‘Orders from above, Cartwright. Sorry, they’re not my rules.’
— Slow Horses (Mick Herron)
These British folks. It’s so hard to read them, but not because the language is difficult and is complex (well, it is), but for me personally it’s so beautiful, the language. I’m amazed by how different it is, which makes it harder to read. I enjoy it thoroughly.
Tattoo, I never knew it had its second meaning of beating at a surface.