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But despite all the evidence that hethe view

Plunging along some two miles above him is Rincewind the wizard, in what on the Disc passes for a spacesuit Picture it as a diving suit designed by o he was a perfectly ordinary failed wizard Then he uide, and has spentshot at, terrorised, chased and hanging froh places with no hope of salvation or, as is now the case, dropping froh places

He isn't looking at the view because his past life keeps flashing in front of his eyes and getting in the way He is learning why it is that when you put on a spacesuit it is vitally iet the helmet

A lot more could be included now to explain why these two are dropping out of the world, and er's Luggage, last seen desperately trying to follow his, is no ordinary suitcase, but such questions take time and could be more trouble than they are worth For example, it is said that someone at a party once asked the famous philosopher Ly Tin Weedle 'Why are you here?' and the reply took three years

What is farway overhead, far above A'Tuin, the elephants and the rapidly-expiring wizard The very fabric of tier

The air was greasy with the distinctive feel of ic, and acrid with the sin a wise man wouldn't inquire about

There was soe about this room deep in the cellars of Unseen University, the Disc's pre it seemed to have tooout of eyeshot The walls were covered with occult syhtfold Seal of Stasis, generally agreed inpower of a well-aimed half brick

The only furnishing in the room was a lectern dark wood, carved into the shape of a bird – well, to be frank, into the shape of a winged thing it is probably best not to examine too closely – and on the lectern, fastened to it by a heavy chain covered in padlocks, was a book

A large, but not particularly impressive, book Other books in the University's libraries had covers inlaid with rare jewels and fascinating wood, or bound with dragon skin This one was just a rather tatty leather It looked the sort of book described in library catalogues as 'slightly foxed', although it would be ered, wolved and possibly beared as well

Metal clasps held it shut They weren't decorated, they were just very heavy – like the chain, which didn't so much attach the book to the lectern as tether it

They looked like the work of someone who had a pretty definite ai harness for elephants

The air thickened and swirled The pages of the book began to crinkle in a quite horrible, deliberate way, and blue light spilled out from between them The silence of the roo clenched

Half a dozen wizards in their nightshirts were taking turns to peer in through the little grille in the door No wizard could sleep with this sort of thing going on – the build-up of raw h the university like a tide

'Right,' said a voice What's going on? And asn't I summoned?'

Galder Weatherwax, Supreme Grand Conjuror of the Order of the Silver Star, Lord Ihth Level Ipsissimus and 304th Chancellor of Unseen University, wasn't sihtshirt with the hand-e cap with the bobble on, even with the Wee Willie Winkie candlestick in his hand He even ed to very nearly pull it off in fluffy pompom slippers as well