‘But they just killed them, without even-’
‘I wish you wouldn’t go on about it. I saw it as well.’
Nijel drew back. His eyes narrowed.
‘You’re a wizard, too,’ he said accusingly.
‘Not that kind I’m not,’ said Rincewind shortly.
‘What kind are you, then?’
‘The non-killing kind.’
‘It was the way they looked at them as if it just didn’t matter-’ said Nijel, shaking his head. ‘That was the worst bit.’
‘Yes.’
Rincewind dropped the single syllable heavily in front of Nijel’s train of thought, like a tree trunk. The boy shuddered, but at least he shut up. Rincewind actually began to feel sorry for him, which was very unusual-he normally felt he needed all his pity for himself.
‘Is that the first time you’ve seen someone killed?’ he said.
‘Yes.’
‘Exactly how long have you been a barbarian hero?’
‘Er. What year is this?’
Rincewind peered around a corner, but such people as were around and vertical were far too busy panicking to bother about them.
‘Out on the road, then?’ he said quietly. ‘Lost track of time? I know how it is. This is the Year of the Hyena.’
‘Oh. In that case, about-’ Nijel’s lips moved soundlessly-’about three days. Look’, he added quickly, ‘how can people kill like that? Without even thinking about it?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Rincewind, in a tone of voice that suggested he was thinking about it.
‘I mean, even when the vizier had me thrown in the snake pit, at least he seemed to be taking an interest.’
‘That’s good. Everyone should have an interest.’
‘I mean, he even laughed!’
Ah. A sense of humour, too.’
Rincewind felt that he could see his future with the same crystal clarity that a man falling off a cliff sees the ground, and for much the same reason. So when Nijel said: ‘They just pointed their fingers without so much as-’ , Rincewind snapped: ‘Just shut up, will you? How do you think I feel about it? I’m a wizard, too!’ >Rincewind looked down at the snake, which was still trying to keep out of everyone’s way. It had a good thing going in the pit, and knew trouble when it saw it. It wasn’t about to cause any aggro for anyone. It stared right back up at Rincewind and shrugged, which is pretty clever for a reptile with no shoulders.
‘How long have you been a barbarian hero?’
‘I’m just getting started. I’ve always wanted to be one, you see, and I thought maybe I could pick it up as I went along.’ Nijel peered short-sightedly at Rincewind. ‘That’s all right, isn’t it?’
‘It’s a desperate sort of life, by all accounts,’ Rincewind volunteered.
‘Have you thought what it might be like selling groceries for the next fifty years?’ Nijel muttered darkly.
Rincewind thought.
‘Is lettuce involved?’ he said.
‘Oh yes,’ said Nijel, shoving the mysterious book back in his bag. Then he started to pay close attention to the pit walls.