Mort

—”
    Y OU HAVE SUFFICIENT , said Death coldly. M ATHEMATICS ISN’T ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE .
    “ How do you feel about being invited to christenings ?”
    I THINK NOT . I WASN’T CUT OUT TO BE A FATHER, AND CERTAINLY NOT A GRANDAD . I HAVEN’T GOT THE RIGHT KIND OF KNEES .
    He put down his wine glass and nodded at Mort .
    M Y REGARDS TO YOUR GOOD LADY , he said. A ND NOW I REALLY MUST BE OFF .
    “ Are you sure? You’re welcome to stay .”
    I T’S NICE OF YOU TO SAY SO, BUT DUTY CALLS . He extended a bony hand. Y OU KNOW HOW IT IS .
    Mort gripped the hand and shook it, ignoring the chill .
    “ Look,” he said. “If ever you want a few days off, you know, if you’d like a holiday —”
    M ANY THANKS FOR THE OFFER , said Death graciously. I SHALL THINK ABOUT IT MOST SERIOUSLY. AND NOW —
    “ Goodbye,” Mort said, and was surprised to find a lump in his throat. “It’s such an unpleasant word, isn’t it ?”
    Q UITE SO . Death grinned because, as has so often been remarked, he didn’t have much option. But possibly he meant it, this time .
    I PREFER AU REVOIR , he said .
    THE END

About the Author
    Terry Pratchett lives in England, an island off the coast of France, where he spends his time writing Discworld novels in accordance with the Very Strong Anthropic Principle, which holds that the entire Purpose of the Universe is to make possible a being that will live in England, an island off the coast of France, and spend his time writing Discworld novels. Which is exactly what he does. Which proves the whole business true. Any Questions?

    Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

UNANIMOUS PRAISE FOR TERRY PRATCHETT
    “Superb popular entertainment.”
    Washington Post Book World
    “Pratchett has now moved beyond the limits of humorous fantasy, and should be recognized as one of the more significant contemporary English language satirists.”
    Publishers Weekly
    “Humorously entertaining…subtly thought-provoking…Pratchett’s Discworld books are filled with humor and with magic, but they’re rooted in—of all things—real life and cold, hard reason.”
    Chicago Tribune
    “Think J.R.R. Tolkien with a sharper, more satiric edge.”
    Houston Chronicle
    “His books are richly textured, and far more complex than they appear at first.”
    Barbara Mertz
    “Truly original…Discworld is more complicated and satisfactory than Oz…. Has the energy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland. …Brilliant!”
    A. S. Byatt
    “For lighthearted escape with a thoughtful center, you can’t do better than…any…Discworld novel.”
    Washington Post Book World
    “Simply the best humorous writer of the twentieth century.”
    Oxford Times
    “A brilliant storyteller with a sense of humor…whose infectious fun completely engulfs you…. The Dickens of the twentieth century.”
    Mail on Sunday (London)
    “If you are unfamiliar with Pratchetts unique blend of philosophical badinage interspersed with slapstick, you are on the threshold of a mind-expanding opportunity.”
    Financial Times (London)
    “The funniest parodist working in the field today, period.”
    New York Review of Science Fiction
    “Pratchett demonstrates just how great the distance is between one- or two-joke writers and the comic masters whose work will be read into the next century.”
    Locus
    “Pratchett is a comic genius.”
    Express (London)
    “As always he is head and shoulders above the best of the rest. He is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style.”
    Daily Telegraph (London)
    “Terry Pratchett does for fantasy what Douglas Adams did for science fiction.”
    Today (Great Britain)
    “What makes Terry Pratchett’s fantasies so entertaining is that their humor depends on the characters first, on the plot second, rather than the other way around. The story isn’t there simply to lead from one slapstick pratfall to another pun. Its humor is genuine and unforced.”
    Ottawa Citizen
    “Terry Pratchett is more than a magician. He is the kindest, most fascinating teacher you ever had.”
    Harlan Ellison
    “Delightful…. Logically illogical as only Terry Pratchett can write.”
    Anne McCaffrey

B OOKS BY T ERRY P RATCHETT
    The Carpet People
    The Dark Side of the Sun
    Strata • Truckers
    Diggers • Wings
    Only You Can Save Mankind
    Johnny and the Dead • Johnny and the Bomb
    The Unadulterated Cat (with Gray Jollife)
    Good