Мор - ученик смерти

           ’Soundslikeyou’vegotalongwaytogo.’

           IKNOW.PLEASEEXCUSEMYLAMENTABLEIGNORANCE.IWISHONLYTOLEARN.ALLTHESEPEOPLE,PLEASE–THEYAREHAVINGFUN?

           ’Yes!’

           THENTHISisFUN.

           ’I’mgladwe’vegotthatsortedout.Mindthechair,’snappedLordRodley,whowasnowfeelingveryunfunnyandunpleasantlysober.

           Avoicebehindhimsaidquietly:THISISFUN.TODRINKEXCESSIVELYISFUN.WEAREHAVINGFUN.HEISHAVINGFUN.THISISSOMEFUN.WHATFUN.

           BehindDeaththePatrician’ssmallpetswampdragonheldongrimlytothebonyhipsandthought:guardsornoguards,nexttimewepassanopenwindowI’mgoingtorunlikebuggery.

           Kelisatboltuprightinbed.

           ’Don’tmoveanotherstep,’shesaid.’Guards!’

           ’Wecouldn’tstophim,’saidthefirstguard,pokinghisheadshame-facedlyaroundthedoorpost.

           ’Hejustpushedin...’saidtheotherguard,fromtheothersideofthedoorway.

           ’Andthewizardsaiditwasallright,andweweretoldeveryonemustlistentohimbecause.

           ’Allright,allright.Peoplecouldgetmurderedaroundhere,’saidKelitestily,andputthecrossbowbackonthebedsidetablewithout,unfortunately,operatingthesafetycatch.

           Therewasaclick,thethwackofsinewagainstmetal,azipofair,andagroan.ThegroancamefromCutwell.Mortspunroundtohim.

           ’Areyouallright?’hesaid.’Didithityou?’

           ’No,’saidthewizard,weakly.’No,itdidn’t.Howdoyoufeel?’

           ’Abittired.Why?’

           ’Oh,nothing.Nothing.Nodraughtsanywhere?Noslightleakingfeelings?’

           ’No.