Do the elephants get bored?

[Conspiracy Theory]

A'Tuin obviously has things to do, the tiny creatures crawling all over the disc seem very busy indeed, but the elephants just stand there holding up the world.

Do you suppose they get bored?

[Jan Van Quirm]

I have a vague recollection of something about them catching meteors and playing catch with each other somewhere or over (or I could have dreamt it after eating too much cheese or drinking too much beer... )

They have those lovely trunks free anyway so perhaps they help Great A'tuin avoid astral obstacles or swat stuff that gets too close? Perhaps that was it - they play cricket/baseball/softball with their trunks to divert incoming space dross

[Tonyblack]

I have a theory that the elephants catch the water from the Rimfall with their trunks and squirt it up into the atmosphere where it comes down as rain. They've got an important job to do.

[Batty]

Tony, that is a brilliant idea! I can just imagine them doing it, too.

[kakaze]

I have a vague recollection of something about them catching meteors and playing catch with each other somewhere or over (or I could have dreamt it after eating too much cheese or drinking too much beer... )

They have those lovely trunks free anyway so perhaps they help Great A'tuin avoid astral obstacles or swat stuff that gets too close? Perhaps that was it - they play cricket/baseball/softball with their trunks to divert incoming space dross

I think you're thinking of this:

Great A’Tuin the Turtle, upon Whose ancient and meteor-riddled shell the disc ultimately rests. Sometimes, in His slow journey across the shores of infinity, He moves His countrysized head to snap at a passing comet.

I remember another case when A'Tuin rolled to prevent a passing comet or meteor from hitting the disc, but I can't remember where I read that.

[Exp. Date, the rat]

I remember another case when A'Tuin rolled to prevent a passing comet or meteor from hitting the disc, but I can't remember where I read that.

I think that that was from Thief of Time, IIRC. When the wizards or Astrophysists were wondering why the Disc moved one day, but they did not see the meteor get eaten.