Мор - ученик смерти

           ’Youtoldmeitwasagoodpositionandit’sadisgraceupthere,thetricksthemstudentsplay,andIdemand–Iwantyouto–I’mnot.

           Hervoicetrailedoff.

           ’’Ere,’shesaid,butyoucouldtellherheartwasn’tinit,’you’renotKeeble,areyou?’

           Deathstaredather.He’dneverbeforeexperiencedanunsatisfiedcustomer.Hewasataloss.Finallyhegaveup.

           BEGONE,YOUBLACKANDMIDNIGHTHAG,hesaid.

           Thecook’ssmalleyesnarrowed.

           ’’Ooareyoucallingamidnightbag?’shesaidaccusingly,andhitthecounterwiththefishagain.’Lookatthis,’shesaid.’Lastnightitwasmybedwarmer,inthemorningit’safish.Iaskyou.’

           MAYALLTHEDEMONSOFHELLRENDYOURLIVINGSPIRITIFYOUDON’TGETOUTOFTHESHOPTHISMINUTE,Deathtried.

           ’Idon’tknowaboutthat,butwhataboutmybedwarmer?It’snoplaceforarespectablewomanupthere,theytriedto—’

           IFYOUWOULDCARETOGOAWAY,saidDeathdesperately,IWILLGIVEYOUSOMEMONEY.

           ’Howmuch?’saidthecook,withaspeedthatwouldhaveoutdistancedastrikingrattlesnakeandgivenlightninganastyshock.

           Deathpulledouthiscoinbagandtippedaheapofverdigrisedanddarkenedcoinsonthecounter.Sheregardedthemwithdeepsuspicion.

           NOWLEAVEUPONTHEINSTANT,saidDeath,andadded,BEFORETHESEARINGWINDSOFINFINITYSCORCHTHYWORTHLESSCARCASS.

           ’Myhusbandwillbetoldaboutthis,’saidthecookdarkly,asshelefttheshop.ItseemedtoDeaththatnothreatofhiscouldpossiblybeasdire.

           Hestalkedbackthroughthecurtains.