Мор - ученик смерти

           Hewassuddenlyawarethathehadmadesomelifelongenemies,anditwasnoconsolationtoknowthatheprobablywouldn’thavethemforverylong.

           ’Right!Holdmystaff.Now,youbunchofmiserableback-sliders,thisisgoingtostop,d’yerhear?Firstthingtomorrow,upatdawn,threetimesroundthequadrangleandbackhereforphysicaljerks!Balancedmeals!Study!Healthyexercise!Andthatbloodymonkeygoestoacircus,firstthing!’

           ’Oook?’

           Severaloftheolderwizardsshuttheireyes.

           ’Butfirst,’saidAlbert,loweringhisvoice,’you’llobligemebysettinguptheRiteofAshkEnte.’

           ’Ihavesomeunfinishedbusiness,’headded.

           Mortstrodethroughthecat-blackcorridorsofthepyramid,withYsabellhurryingalongbehindhim.Thefaintglowfromhisswordilluminatedunpleasantthings;OfflertheCrocodileGodwasacosmeticsadvertcomparedtosomeofthethingsthepeopleofTsortworshipped.InalcovesalongthewaywerestatuesofcreaturesapparentlybuiltofallthebitsGodhadleftover.

           ’Whataretheyherefor?’whisperedYsabell.

           ’TheTsorteanpriestssaytheycomealivewhenthepyramidissealedandprowlthecorridorstoprotectthebodyofthekingfromtombrobbers,’saidMort.

           ’Whatahorriblesuperstition.’

           ’Whosaidanythingaboutsuperstition?’saidMortabsently.

           ’Theyreallycomealive?’

           ’AllI’llsayisthatwhentheTsorteansputacurseonaplace,theydon’tmessabout.’

           MortturnedacornerandYsabelllostsightofhimforaheart-stoppingmoment.