Death - special occasions

“People die all the time, sir, don’t they? Millions. You must be very busy. But—”

Death gave Mort the look he was coming to be familiar with. It started off as blank surprise,
flickered briefly towards annoyance, called in for a drink at recognition and settled finally on vague
forbearance.

BUT?

“I’d have thought you’d have been, well, out and about a bit more. You know. Stalking the
streets. My granny’s almanack’s got a picture of you with a scythe and stuff.”

I SEE. I AM AFRAID IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN UNLESS YOU KNOW ABOUT POINT INCARNATION AND NODE
FOCUSING. I DON’T EXPECT YOU DO?

“I don’t think so.”

GENERALLY I’M ONLY EXPECTED TO MAKE AN ACTUAL APPEARANCE ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

“Like a king, I suppose,” said Mort. “I mean, a king is reigning even when he’s doing something
else or asleep, even. Is that it, sir?”

IT’LL DO, said Death, rolling up the maps. AND NOW, BOY, IF YOU’VE FINISHED THE STABLE YOU CAN
GO AND SEE IF ALBERT HAS ANY JOBS HE WANTS DOING. IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN COME OUT ON THE ROUND
WITH ME THIS EVENING.

***

Mort p28-29