Мор - ученик смерти

           Itdidn’tsomuchhaveaneighbourhoodasanecology,likeagreatland-basedcoralreef.Therewerethehumans,allright,humanoidequivalentsoflobsters,squid,shrimpsandsoon.Andsharks.

           Mortwanderedhopelesslyalongthewindingstreets.Anyonehoveringatrooftopheightwouldhavenoticedacertainpatterninthecrowdsbehindhim,suggestinganumberofmenconvergingnonchalantlyonatarget,andwouldrightlyhaveconcludedthatMortandhisgoldhadaboutthesamelifeexpectancyasathree-leggedhedgehogonasix-lanemotorway.

           ItisprobablyalreadyapparentthatTheShadeswasnotthesortofplacetohaveinhabitants.Ithaddenizens.PeriodicallyMortwouldtrytoengageoneinconversation,tofindthewaytoagoodhorsedealer.Thedenizenwouldusuallymuttersomethingandhurryaway,sinceanyonewishingtoliveinTheShadesforlongerthanmaybethreehoursdevelopedveryspecialisedsensesindeedandwouldnomorehangaroundnearMortthanapeasantwouldstandnearatalltreeinthunderyweather.

           AndsoMortcameatlasttotheriverAnkh,greatestofrivers.Evenbeforeitenteredthecityitwasslowandheavywiththesiltoftheplains,andbythetimeitgottoTheShadesevenanagnosticcouldhavewalkedacrossit.ItwashardtodrownintheAnkh,buteasytosuffocate.

           Mortlookedatthesurfacedoubtfully.Itseemedtobemoving.Therewerebubblesinit.Ithadtobewater.

           Hesighed,andturnedaway.

           Threemenhadappearedbehindhim,asthoughextrudedfromthestonework.