Мор - ученик смерти

           Farbelowdrumssoundedinthescented,shadowyjunglesandcolumnsofcurlingmistrosefromhiddenriverswherenamelessbeastslurkedunderthesurfaceandwaitedforsuppertowalkpast.

           ’There’snomorecheese,you’llhavetohavetheham,’saidYsabell.’What’sthatlightoverthere?’

           TheLightDams,’saidMort.’We’regettingcloser.’Hepulledthehourglassoutofhispocketandcheckedthelevelofthesand.

           ’Butnotcloseenough,dammit!’

           TheLightDamslaylikepoolsoflighthubwardsoftheircourse,whichisexactlywhattheywere;someofthetribesconstructedmirrorwallsinthedesertmountainstocollecttheDiscsunlight,whichisslowandslightlyheavy.Itwasusedascurrency.

           BinkyglidedoverthecampfiresofthenomadsandthesilentmarshesoftheTsortriver.Aheadofthemdark,familiarshapesbegantorevealthemselvesinthemoonlight.

           ThePyramidsofTsortbymoonlight!’breathedYsabell,’Howromantic!’

           MORTAREDWITHTHEBLOODOFTHOUSANDSOFSLAVES,observedMort.

           ’Pleasedon’t.’

           ’I’msorry,butthepracticalfactofthematteristhatthese—’

           ’Allright,allright,you’vemadeyourpoint,’saidYsabellirritably.

           ’It’salotofefforttogototoburyadeadking,’saidMort,astheycircledaboveoneofthesmallerpyramids.Theyfillthemfullofpreservative,youknow,sothey’llsurviveintothenextworld.’

           ’Doesitwork?’

           ’Notnoticeably.’MortleanedoverBinky’sneck.’Torchesdownthere,’hesaid.’HangOn.’