Мор - ученик смерти

           Thisdidn’thappenoften,becausemostofthesubjectsoftheSunEmperorwerequitehappytoliveinsidetheWall.It’safactoflifethateveryoneisononesideorotherofawall,sotheonlythingtodoisforgetaboutitorevolvestrongerfingers.

           ’Whorunsthisplace?’saidYsabell,astheypassedovertheharbour.

           ’There’ssomekindofboyemperor,’saidMort.’ButthetopmanisreallytheGrandVizier,Ithink.’

           ’NevertrustaGrandVizier,’saidYsabellwisely.

           InfacttheSunEmperordidn’t.TheVizier,whosenamewasNineTurningMirrors,hadsomeveryclearviewsaboutwhoshouldrunthecountry,e.g.,thatitshouldbehim,andnowtheboywasgettingbigenoughtoaskquestionslike’Don’tyouthinkthewallwouldlookbetterwithafewgatesinit?’and’Yes,butwhatisitlikeontheotherside?’hehaddecidedthatintheEmperor’sownbestinterestsheshouldbepainfullypoisonedandburiedinquicklime.

           Binkylandedontherakedgraveloutsidethelow,many-roomedpalace,severelyrearrangingtheharmonyoftheuniverse.MortslidoffhisbackandhelpedYsabelldown.

           ’Justdon’tgetintheway,willyou?’hesaidurgently.’Anddon’taskquestionseither.’

           Heranupsomelacqueredstepsandhurriedthroughthesilentrooms,pausingoccasionallytotakehisbearingsfromthehourglass.AtlasthesidleddownacorridorandpeeredthroughanornatelatticeintoalonglowroomwheretheCourtwasatitseveningmeal.