Thief of Time - Soul

'What else is there?' said Unity. 'I have betrayed my own kind. And I am hideously insane. I can never be at home anywhere. And staying here would be an agony.'

She stared into the chocolate abyss. A dusting of sugar sparkled on its surface.

Then she slipped out of her dress. To her amazement she felt embarrassed about doing so, but still drew herself up haughtily.

'Spoon,' she commanded, and held out her right hand imperiously. Chaos gave a silver ladle a final,
theatrical polish and passed it to her.

'Goodbye,' said Unity. 'Do pass on my best wishes to your granddaughter.'

She walked a few steps back, turned, broke into a run, and took off into a perfect swallow dive. The chocolate closed over her with barely a sound. Then the two watchers waited until the fat, lazy
ripples had died away.

'Now there was a lady with style,' said Chaos. 'What a waste.'

YES. I THOUGHT SO.

'Well, it's been fun... up to that point, anyway. And now I must be off,' said Chaos.

YOU'RE CONTINUING WITH THE MILK ROUND?

'People rely on me.'

Death looked impressed. IT'S GOING TO BE... INTERESTING TO HAVE YOU BACK, he said.

'Yeah. It is,' said Chaos. 'You're not coming?'

I'M GOING TO WAIT HERE FOR A WHILE.

'Why?'

JUST IN CASE.

'Ah.'

YES.

It was some minutes later that Death reached into his robe and pulled out a lifetimer that was small and light enough to have been designed for a doll. He turned round.

'But... I died,' said the shade of Unity.

YES, said Death. THIS IS THE NEXT PART …

***

The Thief of Time - p357-359