Мор - ученик смерти

           Themarketswerethronged,thespectatorswerestillthicklyclusteredaroundthewhorepits,runners-upinthecity’seternalandbyzantinegangwarfaredriftedsilentlydownthroughthechillywatersoftheriverwithleadweightstiedtotheirfeet,dealersinvariousillegalandevenillogicaldelightspliedtheirsidelongtrade,burglarsburgled,knivesflashedstarlightinalleyways,astrologersstartedtheirday’sworkandintheShadesanightwatch-manwhohadlosthiswayranghisbellandcriedout:’Twelveo’clockandall’sarrrrrgghhhh,...’

           However,theAnkh-MorporkChamberofCommercewouldnotbehappyatthesuggestionthattheonlyrealdifferencebetweentheircityandaswampisthenumberoflegsonthealligators,andindeedinthemoreselectareasofAnkh,whichtendtobeinthehillydistrictswherethereisachanceofabitofwind,thenightsaregentleandscentedwithhabiscineandCecilliablossoms.

           Onthisparticularnighttheywerescentedwithsaltpetre,too,becauseitwasthetenthanniversaryoftheaccessionofthePatricianandhehadinvitedafewfriendsroundforadrink,fivehundredoftheminthiscase,andwaslettingofffireworks.Laughterandtheoccasionalgurgleofpassionfilledthepalacegardens,andtheeveninghadjustgottothatinterestingstagewhereeveryonehaddrunktoomuchfortheirowngoodbutnotenoughactuallytofallover.