Мор - ученик смерти

           He’dneverstruckthehorseandwasn’tatallconfidentaboutwhatwouldhappenifhedid.Allhecoulddowaswait.

           Ahandappearedunderhisarm,holdingasandwich.

           ’There’shamorcheeseandchutney,’shesaid.’Youmightaswelleat,there’snothingelsetodo.’

           Mortlookeddownatthesoggytriangleandtriedtorememberwhenhelasthadameal.Sometimebeyondthereachofaclock,anyway–he’dneedacalendartocalculateit.Hetookthesandwich.

           ’Thanks,’hesaid,asgraciouslyashecouldmanage.

           Thetinysunrolleddowntowardsthehorizon,towingitslazydaylightbehindit.Thecloudsaheadgrew,andbecameoutlinedinpinkandorange.Afterawhilehecouldmakeoutthedarkerbluroflandbelowthem,withhereandtherethelightsofacity.

           Halfanhourlaterhewassurehecouldseeindividualbuildings.Agateanarchitectureinclinedtowardssquatpyramids.

           Binkylostheightuntilhishooveswerebarelyafewfeetabovethesea.Mortexaminedthehourglassagain,andgentlytuggedonthereinstodirectthehorsetowardsaseaportalittleRimwardsoftheirpresentcourse.

           Therewereafewshipsatanchor,mostlysingle-sailedcoastaltraders.TheEmpiredidn’tencourageitssubjectstogofaraway,incasetheysawthingsthatmightdisturbthem.Forthesamereasonithadbuiltawallaroundtheentirecountry,patrolledbytheHeavenlyGuardwhosemainfunctionwastotreadheavilyonthefingersofanyinhabitantswhofelttheymightliketostepoutsideforfiveminutesforabreathoffreshair.