Мор - ученик смерти

           TELLME,PLEASE,WHATISTHEMEANINGOFTHISACTIVITY?

           ’What?’shoutedLordRodley,abovethesoundofsomeonekickinginthedoorofaglasscabinetamidshrieksofmerriment.

           WHATisTHISTHINGTHATWEDO?saidthevoice,withglacialpatience.

           ’Haven’tyoubeentoapartybefore?Mindtheglass,bytheway.’

           IAMAFRAIDIDONOTGETOUTASMUCHASIWOULDLIKETO.PLEASEEXPLAINTHIS.DOESITHAVETODOWITHSEX?

           ’Notunlesswepullupsharp,oldboy,ifyouknowwhatImean?’saidhislordship,andnudgedhisunseenfellowguestwithhiselbow.

           ’Ouch,’hesaid.Acrashupaheadmarkedthedemiseofthecoldbuffet.

           NO.

           ’What?’

           IDONOTKNOWWHATYOUMEAN.

           ’Mindthecreamthere,it’sslippery–look,it’sjustadance,allright?Youdoitforfun.’

           FUN.

           ’That’sright.Dada,dada,da–kick!’Therewasanaudiblepause.

           WHOISTHISFUN?

           ’No,funisn’tanybody,funiswhatyouhave.’

           WEAREHAVINGFUN?

           ’IthoughtIwas,’saidhislordshipuncertainly.Thevoicebyhisearwasvaguelyworryinghim;itappearedtobearrivingdirectlyintohisbrain.

           WHATisTHISFUN?

           ’Thisis!’

           TOKICKVIGOROUSLYISFUN?

           ’Well,partofthefun.Kick!’

           TOHEARLOUDMUSICINHOTROOMSISFUN?

           ’Possibly.’

           HOWISTHISFUNMANIFEST?

           ’Well,it–look,eitheryou’rehavingfunoryou’renot,youdon’thavetoaskme,youjustknow,allright?Howdidyougetinhere,anyway?’headded.’AreyouafriendofthePatrician?’

           LETUSSAY,HEPUTSBUSINESSMYWAY.IFELTIOUGHTTOLEARNSOMETHINGOFHUMANPLEASURES.