Мор - ученик смерти

           ’Whatdidyoudo,then?Walkthroughthewall?’

           ’No!Imean,no,Ijustdrankthisdrink,Ithinkitwascalledscrumble—’

           ’Scumble?’

           ’Yes.Tasteslikerottenapples.You’dhavethoughtitwassomesortofpoisonthewaytheykeptstaring.’

           ’Howmuchdidyoudrink,then?’saidCutwell.

           ’Apint,perhaps,Iwasn’treallypayingmuchattention—’

           ’DidyouknowscumbleisthestrongestalcoholicdrinkbetweenhereandtheRamtops?’thewizarddemanded.

           ’No.No-onesaid,’saidMort.’What’sitgottodowith—’

           ’No,’saidCutwell,slowly,’youdidn’tknow.Hmm.That’saclue,isn’tit?’

           ’Hasitgotanythingtodowithsavingtheprincess?’

           ’Probablynot.I’dliketohavealookatmybooks,though.’

           ’Inthatcaseit’snotimportant,’saidMortfirmly.

           HeturnedtoKeli,whowaslookingathimwiththefaintbeginningsofadmiration.

           ’IthinkIcanhelp,’hesaid.’IthinkIcanlaymyhandsonsomepowerfulmagic.Magicwillholdbackthedome,won’tit,Cutwell?’

           ’Mymagicwon’t.It’dhavetobeprettystrongstuff,andI’mnotsureaboutiteventhen.Realityistougherthan—’

           ’Ishallgo,’saidMort.’Untiltomorrow,farewell!’

           ’Itistomorrow,’Kelipointedout.

           Mortdeflatedslightly.

           ’Allright,tonightthen,’hesaid,slightlyputout,andadded,’Iwillbegone!’

           ’Begonewhat?’

           ’It’sherotalk,’saidCutwell,kindly.’Hecan’thelpit.’Mortscowledathim,smiledbravelyatKeliandwalkedoutoftheroom.