Мор - ученик смерти

           MORTWHO?

           ’Yourapprentice,master,’saidAlbertpatiently.Tallyounglad.’

           OFCOURSE.WELL,WE’LLSENDHIM.

           ’Ishereadytogosolo,master?’saidAlbertdoubtfully.

           Deaththoughtaboutit.HECANDOIT,hesaidatast.HE’SKEEN,HE’SQUICKTOLEARNAND,REALLY,eadded,PEOPLECANTEXPECTTOHAVEMERUNNINGAROUNDAFTERTHEMALLTHETIME.

           Mortstaredblanklyatthevelvetwallhangingsafewinchesfromhiseyes.

           I’vewalkedthroughawall,hethought.Andthat’simpossible.

           Hegingerlymovedthehangingsasidetoseeifadoorwaslurkingsomewhere,buttherewasnothingbutcrumblingplasterwhichhadcrackedawayinplacestorevealsomedampishbutemphaticallysolidbrickwork.

           Heproddeditexperimentally.Itwasquiteclearthathewasn’tgoingbackoutthatway.

           ’Well,’hesaidtothewall.’Whatnow?’

           Avoicebehindhimsaid,’Um.Excuseplease?’

           Heturnedaroundslowly.

           GroupedaroundatableinthemiddleoftheroomwasaKlatchianfamilyoffather,motherandhalfadozenchildrenofdwindlingsize.EightpairsofroundeyeswerefixedonMort.