Мор - ученик смерти

           ’Butitcan’tbetrueaboutKingWhosisdwellingamongthestars,’shegrumbledastheyfoundtheirwayoutofthecrowdedroom.’There’snothingbutemptyspaceupthere.’

           IT’SHARDTOEXPLAIN,saidMort.HE’LLDWELLAMONGTHESTARSINHISOWNMIND.

           ’Withslaves?’

           IFTHAT’SWHATTHEYTHINKTHEYARE.

           That’snotveryfair.’

           THERE’SNOJUSTICE,saidMort.JUSTus.

           Theyhurriedbackalongtheavenuesofwaitingghoulsandwerenearlyrunningwhentheyburstoutintothedesertnightair.Ysabellleanedagainsttheroughstoneworkandpantedforbreath.

           Mortwasn’toutofbreath.

           Hewasn’tbreathing.

           IWILLTAKEYOUWHEREVERYOUWANT,hesaid,ANDTHENIMUSTLEAVEYOU.

           ’ButIthoughtyouwantedtorescuetheprincess!’

           Mortshookhishead.

           IHAVENOCHOICE.THEREARENOCHOICES.

           SheranforwardandgrabbedhisarmasheturnedtowardsthewaitingBinky.Heremovedherhandgently.

           IHAVEFINISHEDMYAPPRENTICESHIP.

           ’It’sallinyourownmind!’yelledYsabell.’You’rewhateveryouthinkyouare!’

           Shestoppedandlookeddown.ThesandaroundMort’sfeetwasbeginningtowhipupinlittlespurtsandtwirlingdustdevils.

           Therewasacrackleintheair,andagreasyfeel.Mortlookeduneasy.

           SOMEONEisPERFORMINGTHERITEOFASH—

           Ithitlikeahammer,aforcefromoutoftheskythatblewthesandintoacrater.Therewasalowbuzzingandthesmellofhottin.

           Mortlookedaroundhimselfinthegaleofrushingsand,turningasifinadream,aloneinthecalmcentreofthegale.Lightningflashedinthewhirlingcloud.