Мор - ученик смерти

           Thelongobviouslyhadn’tbeenabletodecidewhathewasgoingtoleavebehindonhisjourney,sohaddecidedtoplaysafeandtakeeverything.

           ONLYITDOESNTALWAYSWORKQUICKLY,Mortaddedsombrely.

           Ysabellclamberedgamelyafterhim,andpeeredoveracanoeatayounggirlsprawledacrossapileofrugs.Shewaswearinggauzetrousers,awaistcoatcutfromnotenoughmaterial,andenoughbanglestomooradecent-sizedship.Therewasagreenstainaroundhermouth.

           ’Doesithurt?’saidYsabellquietly.

           No.THEYTHINKITTAKESTHEMTOPARADISE.

           ’Doesit?’

           MAYBE.WHOKNOWS?Morttookthehourglassoutofaninnerpocketandinspecteditbythegleamofthesword.Heseemedtobecountingtohimself,andthenwithasuddenmovementtossedtheglassoverhisshoulderandbroughtthesworddownwithhisotherhand.

           Thegirl’sshadesatupandstretched,withaclinkofghostlyjewellery.ShecaughtsightofMort,andbowedherhead.

           ’Mylord!’

           NO-ONE’SLORD,saidMort.NOWRUNALONGTOWHEREVERYOUBELIEVEYOU’REGOING.

           ’IshallbeaconcubineattheheavenlycourtofKingZetesphut,whowilldwellamongthestarsforever,’shesaidfirmly.

           ’Youdon’thavetobe,’saidYsabellsharply.Thegirlturnedtoher,wide-eyed.

           ’Oh,butImust.I’vebeentrainingforit,’shesaid,asshefadedfromview.’I’veonlymanagedtobeahandmaidenuptillnow.’

           Shevanished.Ysabellstaredwithdarkdisapprovalatthespaceshehadoccupied.

           ’Well!’shesaid,and,’Didyouseewhatshehadon?’

           LET’SGETOUTOFHERE.