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'What had you in od'

Cutwell curtsied, and took the crown fro fun of me!' snapped Keli

'Sorry,' said Mort, wearily 'It's been rather a long day'

'I hope I can do this right,' said Cutwell solemnly 'I've never crowned anyone before'

'I've never been crowned before!'

'Good,' said Cutwell soothingly 'We can learn together' He started to ue It was in fact a siht, what the hell And then he thought, gosh, in this reality I' to tell ritted his teeth There'd be soed in this reality, that was for sure

Ysabell sat down beside Mort and slipped her hand in his

'Well?' she said quietly This is the tiested itself?'

'No'

The interface was htly as it relentlessly ground down the pressure of the intruding reality

So wet and warm blew in Mort's ear He reached up and touched Binky's ht out of sugar lumps You'll have to find your way home by yourself --'

His hand stopped in o home,' he said

'I don't think father would like that very nored her

'Cutwell!'

'Yes?'

'We're leaving Are you co? You'll still exist when the interface closes'

'Part of me will,' said the wizard

'That's what Ihi as the part that won't, I'd like to join you,' said Cutwell quickly

'I intend to stay here to die in donify,' said Mort 'I've come all the way across the Disc to rescue you, d'you see, and you're going to be rescued'

'But I'm the queen!' said Keli Uncertainty welled up in her eyes, and she spun round to Cutwell, who lowered his candle-stick guiltily 'I heard you say the words! I am queen, aren't I?'

'Oh, yes,' said Cutwell instantly; and then, because a wizard's word is supposed to be harder than cast iron, added virtuously, 'And totally free from infestation, too'

'Cutwell!' snapped Mort The wizard nodded, caught Keli around the waist and bodily hoisted her on to Binky's back Hoisting his skirts around his waist he cla Ysabell up behind hi about the overloading, but Mort turned hied him forward

The interface followed them as they clattered down the hall and into the courtyard, rising slowly Its pearly fog was only yards away, tightening by inches

'Excuse neous Cutwell, Wizard Ist Grade (UU), forniser and soon to be beheaded probably Would you happen to knohere we are going?'

To my father's country,' shouted Ysabell, above the wind of their passage

'Have I ever met him?'

'I don't think so You'd have remembered'

The top of the palace wall scraped Binky's hooves as, ht Cutwell leaned backward again, holding on to his hat

'Who is this gentleman of which we speak?' he yelled

'Death,' said Ysabell

'Not --'

'Yes'

'Oh' Cutwell peered down at the distant rooftops, and gave her a lopsided smile 'Would it save time if I just juet to know him,' said Ysabell defensively

'Is he? Do you think we'll get the chance?'

'Hold on!' said Mort 'We should be going across just about --'

A hole full of blackness rushed out of the sky and caught them

The interface bobbed uncertainly, e

The front door opened Ysabell poked her head out

'There's no-one at home,' she said 'You'd better come in'

The other three filed into the hallway Cutwell conscientiously wiped his feet

'It's a bit ser inside,' said Mort, and turned to Ysabell 'Have you looked everywhere?'

'I can't even find Albert,' she said 'I can't rehed, re her duties as hostess

'Would anyone like a drink?' she said Keli ignored her

'I was expecting a castle at least,' she said 'Big and black, with great dark towers Not an uot a scythe in it,' Cutwell pointed out

'Let's all go into the study and sit down and I'm sure we'll all feel better,' said Ysabell hurriedly, and pushed open the black baize door

Cutwell and Keli stepped through, bickering Ysabell took Mort's ar to do now?' she said 'Father will be very angry if he finds the,' said Mort 'I'll rewrite the autobiographies or so' He s'

The door sla face

The big leather armchair behind the desk revolved slowly Death looked at Mort over steepled fingers When he was quite certain he had their full, horrified attention, he said:

YOU HAD BETTER START NOW

He stood up, appearing to grow larger as the room darkened

DON'T BOTHER TO APOLOGISE, he added Keli buried her head in Cutwell's ample chest

I AM BACK AND I AM ANGRY

'Master, I --' Mort began

SHUT UP, said Death He beckoned Keli with a calcareous forefinger She turned to look at hi to disobey

Death reached out and touched her chin Mort's hand went to his sword

IS THIS THE FACE THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND SHIPS, AND BURNED THE TOPLESS TOWERS OF PSEUDO--

POLIS? wondered Death Keli stared hypnotised at the red pinpoints miles deep in those dark sockets

'Er, excusehis hat respectfully, Mexican fashion

WELL? said Death, distracted

'It isn't, sir Youabout another face'

WHAT is YOUR NAME?

'Cutwell, sir I'm a wizard, sir'

I'M A WIZARD, SIR, Death sneered BE SILENT, WIZARD

'Sir' Cutwell stepped back

Death turned to Ysabell

DAUGHTER, EXPLAIN YOURSELF WHY DID YOU AID THIS FOOL?

Ysabell curtsied nervously