Мор - ученик смерти

           ’I’mnotsureIunderstandallthis,’saidMort.’Didyousayhemadeallthis?’

           Beyondthegardenwallthegrounddroppedtowardsadeepvalleyandthenroseintodarkmoorlandthatmarchedallthewaytodistantmountains,jaggedascats’teeth.

           ’Yeah,’saidAlbert.’Mindwhatyou’redoingwiththatwateringcan.’

           ’Whatwasherebefore?’

           ’Idunno,’saidAlbert,startingafreshrow.’Firmament,Isuppose.That’sthefancynameforrawnothing.It’snotaverygoodjobofwork,totellthetruth.Imean,thegarden’sokay,butthemountainsaredownrightshoddy.They’reallfuzzywhenyougetupclose.Iwentandhadalookonce.’

           Mortsquintedhardatthetreesnearesthim.Theyseemedcommendablysolid.

           ’What’dhedoitallfor?’hesaid.

           Albertgrunted.’Doyouknowwhathappenstoladswhoasktoomanyquestions?’

           Mortthoughtforamoment.

           ’No,’hesaideventually,’what?’

           Therewassilence.

           ThenAlbertstraightenedupandsaid,’DamnedifIknow.Probablytheygetanswers,andserve’emright.’