Мор - ученик смерти

           Theydon’tgoinforthefancyorexotic,butsticktoconventionalfoodlikeflightlessbirdembryos,mincedorgansinintestineskins,slicesofhogfleshandburntgroundgrassseedsdippedinanimalfats;or,asitisknownintheirpatois,egg,sossandbaconandafriedslice.

           Itwasthekindofeatinghousethatdidn’tneedamenu.YoujustlookedatHarga’svest.

           Still,hehadtoadmit,thisnewcookseemedtobethebusiness.Harga,anexpansiveadvertforhisownhighcarbohydratemerchandise,beamedataroomfullofsatisfiedcustomers.Andafastworker,too!Infact,disconcertinglyfast.

           Herappedonthehatch.

           ’Doubleegg,chips,beans,andatrollburger,holdtheonions,’herasped.

           RIGHT.

           Thehatchslidupafewsecondslaterandtwoplateswerepushedthrough.Hargashookhisheadingratifiedamazement.

           Ithadbeenlikethatallevening.Theeggswerebrightandshiny,thebeansglistenedlikerubies,andthechipswerethecrispgoldenbrownofsunburnedbodiesonexpensivebeaches.Harga’slastcookhadturnedoutchipslikelittlepaperbagsfullofpus.

           Hargalookedaroundthesteamycafe.No-onewaswatchinghim.Hewasgoingtogettothebottomofthis.Herappedonthehatchagain.

           ’Alligatorsandwich,’hesaid.’Andmakeitsna—’

           Thehatchshotup.Afterafewsecondstopluckupenoughcourage,Hargapeeredunderthetopsliceofthelongsarnyinfrontofhim.Hewasn’tsayingthatitwasalligator,andhewasn’tsayingitwasn’t.Heknuckledthehatchagain.