Мор - ученик смерти

           TheyfoundAlbertslumpedagainstthefootofthebookshelf,mutteringandholdinghisarm.

           ’There’snoneedtomakethatkindoffuss,’saidYsabellbriskly.’You’renothurt;fathersimplydoesn’tallowthatkindofthingtohappen.’

           ’Whatdidyouhavetogoanddothatfor?’hemoaned.’Ididn’tmeananyharm.’

           ’Youweregoingtopushusoff,’saidMort,tryingtohelphimup.’Ireadit.I’msurprisedyoudidn’tusemagic.’

           Albertglaredathim.

           ’Oh,soyou’vefoundout,haveyou?’hesaidquietly.Thenmuchgoodmayitdoyou.You’venorighttogoprying.’

           Hestruggledtohisfeet,shookoffMort’shand,andstumbledbackalongthehushedshelves.

           ’No,wait,’saidMort,’Ineedyourhelp!’

           ’Well,ofcourse,’saidAlbertoverhisshoulder.’Itstandstoreason,doesn’tit?Youthought,I’lljustgoandpryintosomeone’sprivatelifeandthenI’lldropitonhimandthenI’llaskhimtohelpme.’

           ’Ionlywantedtofindoutifyouwerereallyyou,’saidMort,runningafterhim.

           ’Iam.Everyoneis.’

           ’Butifyoudon’thelpmesomethingterriblewillhappen!There’sthisprincess,andshe—’

           Terriblethingshappenallthetime,boy—’

           ’—Mort—’

           ’—andno-oneexpectsmetodoanythingaboutit.’

           ’Butyouwerethegreatest!’

           Albertstoppedforamoment,butdidnotlookaround.

           ’Wasthegreatest,wasthegreatest.Anddon’tyoutrytobuttermeup.Iain’tbutterable.’

           ’They’vegotstatuestoyouandeverything,’saidMort,tryingnottoyawn.