Мор - ученик смерти

           Therewasnodoubtthathewasmakingalotofmoney,especiallysincethestrangerdidn’tseeminclinedtoworryaboutoverchargingorshortchange.Butitwasgettinglate;infactitwasgettingsolatethatitwasgettingearly.Therewasalsosomethingaboutthesolitarycustomerthatunsettledhim.PeopleinTheMendedDrumoftendrankasthoughtherewasnotomorrow,butthiswasthefirsttimehe’dactuallyfelttheymightberight.

           IMEAN,WHATHAVEIGOTTOLOOKFORWARDTO?WHERE’STHESENSEINITALL?WHATISITREALLYALLABOUT?

           ’Can’tsay,myfriend.Iexpectyou’llfeelbetterafteragoodnight’ssleep.’

           SLEEP?SLEEP?INEVERSLEEP.I’MWOSSNAME,PROVERBIALFORIT.

           ’Everyoneneedstheirsleep.Evenme,’hehinted.

           THEYALLHATEME,YOUKNOW.

           ’Yes,yousaid.Butit’saquartertothree.’

           Thestrangerturnedunsteadilyandlookedaroundthesilentroom.

           THERE’SNO-ONEINTHEPLACEBUTYOUANDI,hesaid.

           Thelandlordlifteduptheflapandcamearoundthebar,helpingthestrangerdownfromhisstool.

           IHAVEN’TGOTASINGLEFRIEND.EVENCATSFINDMEAMUSING.

           AhandshotoutandgrabbedabottleofAmanitaLiquorbeforethemanmanagedtopropelitsownertothedoor,wonderinghowsomeonesothincouldbesoheavy.

           IDON’THAVETOBEDRUNK,ISAID.WHYDOPEOPLELIKETOBEDRUNK?ISITFUN?

           ’Helpsthemforgetaboutlife,oldchap.NowjustyouleantherewhileIgetthedooropen—’

           FORGETABOUTLIFE.HA.HA.