Мор - ученик смерти

           ’Uh,’saidMort,’Mortimer...sir.TheycallmeMort.’

           WHATACOINCIDENCE,saidtheskull.HELPMEUP,PLEASE.

           Thefigureroseunsteadily,brushingitselfdown.NowMortcouldseetherewasaheavybeltarounditswaist,fromwhichwasslungawhite-handledsword.

           ’Ihopeyouarenothurt,sir,’hesaidpolitely.

           Theskullgrinned.Ofcourse,Mortthought,ithasn’tmuchofachoice.

           NOHARMDONE,IAMSURE.TheskulllookedaroundandseemedtoseeLezek,whoappearedtobefrozentothespot,forthefirsttime.Mortthoughtanexplanationwascalledfor.

           ’Myfather,’hesaid,tryingtomoveprotectivelyinfrontofExhibitAwithoutcausinganyoffence.’Excuseme,sir,butareyouDeath?’

           CORRECT.FULLMARKSFOROBSERVATION,THATBOY.

           Mortswallowed.

           ’Myfatherisagoodman,’hesaid.Hethoughtforawhile,andadded,’Quitegood.I’dratheryoulefthimalone,ifit’sallthesametoyou.Idon’tknowwhatyouhavedonetohim,butI’dlikeyoutostopit.Nooffencemeant.’

           Deathsteppedback,hisskullononeside.

           IHAVEMERELYPUTUSOUTSIDETIMEFORAMOMENT,hesaid.HEWILLSEEANDHEARNOTHINGTHATDISTURBSHIM.NO,BOY,ITWASYOUICAMEFOR.