Мор - ученик смерти

           YsabellsatdownbesideMortandslippedherhandinhis.

           ’Well?’shesaidquietly.Thisisthetime.Hasanythingsuggesteditself?’

           ’No.’

           Theinterfacewasmorethanhalfwaydownthehall,slowingslightlyasitrelentlesslygrounddownthepressureoftheintrudingreality.

           SomethingwetandwarmblewinMort’sear.HereachedupandtouchedBinky’smuzzle.

           ’Dearoldhorse,’hesaid.’AndI’mrightoutofsugarlumps.You’llhavetofindyourwayhomebyyourself—’

           Hishandstoppedinmid-pat.

           ’Wecanallgohome,’hesaid.

           ’Idon’tthinkfatherwouldlikethatverymuch,’saidYsabell,butMortignoredher.

           ’Cutwell!’

           ’Yes?’

           ’We’releaving.Areyoucoming?You’llstillexistwhentheinterfacecloses.’

           ’Partofmewill,’saidthewizard.

           ’That’swhatImeant,’saidMort,swinginghimselfupontoBinky’sback.

           ’Butspeakingasthepartthatwon’t,I’dliketojoinyou,’saidCutwellquickly.

           ’Iintendtostayheretodieinmyownkingdom,’saidKeli.

           ’Whatyouintenddoesn’tsignify,’saidMort.’I’vecomeallthewayacrosstheDisctorescueyou,d’yousee,andyou’regoingtoberescued.’

           ’ButI’mthequeen!’saidKeli.Uncertaintywelledupinhereyes,andshespunroundtoCutwell,wholoweredhiscandle-stickguiltily.’Iheardyousaythewords!Iamqueen,aren’tI?’

           ’Oh,yes,’saidCutwellinstantly;andthen,becauseawizard’swordissupposedtobeharderthancastiron,addedvirtuously,’Andtotallyfreefrominfestation,too.’