Мор - ученик смерти

           Aninthpairbelongingtoanagedgrandparentofindeterminatesexweren’t,becausetheirownerhadtakenadvantageoftheinterruptiontogetsomeelbowroomatthecommunalricebowl,takingtheviewthataboiledfishinthehandwasworthanyamountofunexplainedmanifestations,andthesilencewaspunctuatedbythesoundofdeterminedmastication.

           InonecornerofthecrowdedroomwasalittleshrinetoOffler,thesix-armedCrocodileGodofKlatch.ItwasgrinningjustlikeDeath,exceptofcourseDeathdidn’thaveaflockofholybirdsthatbroughthimnewsofhisworshippersandalsokepthisteethclean.

           Klatchiansprizehospitalityaboveallothervirtues.AsMortstaredthewomantookanotherplateofftheshelfbehindherandsilentlybegantofillitfromthebigbowl,snatchingachoicecutofcatfishfromtheancient’shandsafterabriefstruggle.Herkohl-rimmedeyesremainedsteadilyonMort,however.

           Itwasthefatherwhohadspoken.Mortbowednervously.

           ’Sorry,’hesaid.’Er,Iseemtohavewalkedthroughthiswall.’Itwasratherlame,hehadtoadmit.

           ’Please?’saidtheman.Thewoman,herbanglesjangling,carefullyarrangedafewslicesofpepperacrosstheplateandsprinkleditwithadarkgreensaucethatMortwasafraidherecognised.He’dtrieditafewweeksbefore,andalthoughitwasacomplicatedrecipeonetastehadbeenenoughtoknowthatitwasmadeoutoffishentrailsmarinatedforseveralyearsinavatofsharkbile.Deathhadsaidthatitwasanacquiredtaste.Morthaddecidednottomaketheeffort.

           Hetriedtosidlearoundtheedgeoftheroomtowardsthebead-hungdoorway,alltheheadsturningtowatchhim.Hetriedagrin.