Thief of Time - Clouds

Susan stopped, turned to look up at a huge, gilt-framed picture that occupied one whole wall of a lengthy corridor, and said, quietly: 'Oh...'

'What is it?'

'The Battle of Ar-Gash, by Blitzt,' said Susan.

Lobsang looked at the flaking, uncleaned paint and the yellow-brown varnish. The colours had faded to a dozen shades of mud, but something violent and evil shone through.

'Is that meant to be Hell?' he said.

'No, it was an ancient city in Klatch, thousands of years ago,' said Susan. 'But Grandfather did say that men made it Hell. Blitzt went mad when he painted it.'

'Er, he did good storm clouds, though,' said Lobsang, swallowing 'Wonderful, er, light...'

'Look at what's coming out of the clouds,' said Susan.

Lobsang squinted into the crusted cumulus and fossilized lightning.

'Oh, yes. The Four Horsemen. You often get them in-'

'Count again,' said Susan.

Lobsang stared. 'There's two-'

'Don't be silly, there's fi-' she began, and then followed his gaze. He hadn't been interested in the art.

***

The Thief of Time - p265-266