Мор - ученик смерти

           THERE’SNOTECHNICALREASONWHYNOT,heconceded.INMYEXPERIENCE,HOWEVER,ITISGENERALLYNOTTHECASE.

           Thehorsewheeled,andthevastflatcheckerboardoftheStoplainspedunderneaththematlightningspeed.Thiswasrichcountry,fullofsiltandrollingcabbagefieldsandneatlittlekingdomswhoseboundarieswriggledlikesnakesassmall,formalwars,marriagepacts,complexalliancesandtheoccasionalbitofsloppycartographychangedthepoliticalshapeoftheland.

           ’Thisking,’saidMort,asaforestzippedbeneaththem,’ishegoodorbad?’

           INEVERCONCERNMYSELFWITHSUCHTHINGS,saidDeath.HE’SNOWORSETHANANYOTHERKING,IIMAGINE.

           ’Doeshehavepeopleputtodeath?’saidMort,andrememberingwhohewastalkingtoadded,’Savingy’honour’spresence,ofcourse.’

           SOMETIMES.THEREARESOMETHINGSYOUHAVETODO,WHENYOU’REAKING.

           Acityslidbelowthem,clusteredaroundacastlebuiltonarockoutcropthatpokedupoutoftheplainlikeageologicalpimple.ItwasonehugerockfromthedistantRamtops,Deathsaid,lefttherebytheretreatingiceinthelegendarydayswhentheIceGiantswagedwaronthegodsandrodetheirglaciersacrossthelandinanattempttofreezethewholeworld.They’dgivenupintheend,however,anddriventheirgreatglitteringflocksbacktotheirhiddenlandsamongtherazor-backedmountainsneartheHub.No-oneontheplainsknewwhytheyhaddonethis;itwasgenerallyconsideredbytheyoungergenerationinthecityofStoLat,thecityaroundtherock,thatitwasbecausetheplacewasdeadboring.