said the voice.
Mooty peered at the hooded figure.
'Cor!' he said. 'I thought you dint turn up for the likes o' me. '
I TURN UP FOR EVERYONE.
'I mean in... person, sort of thing. '
'Sometimes. On special occasions.'
'Yeah, well, ' said Mooty, 'this is one of them, all right! I mean, it looked like a bloody dragon! What's a man to do? You don't expect to find a dragon around the corner!'
'And now, if you would care to step this way ..'.
said Death, laying a skeletal hand on Mooty's shoulder.
'Do you know, a fortune teller once told me I'd die in my bed, surrounded by grieving greatgrandchildren, ' said Mooty, following the stately figure. 'What do you think of that, eh?'
I THINK SHE WAS WRONG.
'A bloody dragon, ' said Mooty. 'Fire breathing, too. Did I suffer much?'
NO. IT WAS PRACTICALLY INSTANTANEOUS.
'That's good. I wouldn't like to think I'd suffered much. ' Mooty looked around him. 'What happens now?' he said.
Behind them, the rain washed the little heap of black ash into the mud.
...
The Supreme Grand Master opened his eyes. He was lying on his back. Brother Dunnykin was preparing to give him the kiss of life. The mere thought was enough to jerk anyone from the borders of consciousness.
He sat up, trying to shed the feeling that he weighed several tons and was covered in scales.
'We did it, ' he whispered. 'The dragon! It came! I felt it!'
The Brethren glanced at one another.
'We never saw nothing, ' said Brother Plasterer.
'I might of seen something, ' said Brother Watchtower loyally.
'No, not here, ' snapped the Supreme Grand Master. 'You hardly want it to materialise here, do you? It was out there, in the city. Just for a few seconds... '
He pointed. 'Look!'
The Brethren turned around guiltily, expecting at any moment the hot flame of retribution.
In the centre of the circle the magic items were gently crumbling to dust. Even as they watched, Brother Dunnykin's amulet collapsed.
'Sucked dry, ' whispered Brother Fingers. 'I'll be damned!'
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