Мор - ученик смерти

           Thewaterboiledastheriver’sentirepiscinepopulationfoughttogetoutofthewayofthebuzzingterrorand,unfortunately,alargeandmaddenedpiketookTerpsic’shookoutofsheerconfusion.

           Onemomenthewasstandingonthebank,andthenexthewasinagreen,clanginggloom,bubblinghisbreathawayandwatchinghislifeflashbeforehiseyesand,eveninthemomentofdrowning,dreadingthethoughtofwatchingthebitbetweenthedayofhisweddingandthepresent.ItoccurredtohimthatGwladyswouldsoonbeawidow,whichcheeredhimupalittlebit.InfactTerpsichadalwaystriedtolookonthebrightside,anditstruckhim,ashesankgratefullyintothesilt,thatfromthispointonhiswholelifecouldonlyimprove....

           Andahandgrabbedhishairanddraggedhimtothesurface,whichwassuddenlyfullofpain.Ghastlyblueandblackblotchesswaminfrontofhiseyes.Hislungswereonfire.Histhroatwasapipeofagony.

           Hands–coldhands,freezinghands,handsthatfeltlikeaglovefullofdice–towedhimthroughthewaterandthrewhimdownontothebankwhere,aftersomegameattemptstogetonwithdrowning,hewaseventuallybulliedbackintowhatpassedforhislife.

           Terpsicdidn’toftengetangry,becauseGwladysdidn’tholdwithit.Buthefeltcheated.He’dbeenbornwithoutbeingconsulted,he’dbeenmarriedbecauseGwladysandherfatherhadseentoit,andtheonlymajorhumanachievementthatwasuniquelyhishadbeenrudelysnatchedawayfromhim.Afewsecondsagoithadallbeensosimple.