Мор - ученик смерти

           ’Ialwaysthoughtitwas.’

           PEOPLETHINKIT’SIMPORTANTONLYBECAUSETHEYINVENTEDIT,saidDeathsombrely.Mortconsideredthisrathertrite,butdecidednottoargue.

           ’Whatarewegoingtodonow?’hesaid.

           THERE’SAPROMISINGWARINKLATCHISTAN,saidDeath.SEVERALPLAGUEOUTBREAKS.ONERATHERIMPORTANTASSASSINATION,IFYOU’DPREFER.

           ’What,amurder?’

           AYE,AKING.

           ’Oh,kings,’saidMortdismissively.Heknewaboutkings.Onceayearabandofstrollingplayers,oratanyrateamblingones,cametoSheepridgeandtheplaystheyperformedwereinvariablyaboutkings.Kingswerealwayskillingoneanother,orbeingkilled.Theplotswerequitecomplicated,involvingmistakenidentity,poisons,battles,long-lostsons,ghosts,witchesand,usually,lotsofdaggers.Sinceitwasclearthatbeingakingwasnopicnicitwasamazingthathalfthecastwereapparentlytryingtobecomeone.Mort’sideaofpalacelifewasalittlehazy,butheimaginedthatno-onegotmuchsleep.

           ’I’dquiteliketoseearealking,’hesaid.’Theywearcrownsallthetime,mygrannysaid.Evenwhentheygotothelavatory.’

           Deathconsideredthiscarefully.