He added, Also children and small furry animals.’
‘They vill suffer in the cause of progress. Now is the time ve reclaim the world,’ rumbled the giant. ‘Whole vorld of ice. According to inevitability of history and triumph of thermodynamics.’
‘Yes, but you don’t have to,’ said Nijel.
‘Ve vant to,’ said the giant. ‘The gods are gone, ve throw off shackles of outmoded superstition.’
‘Freezing the whole world solid doesn’t sound very progressive to me,’ said Nijel.
‘Ve like it.’
‘Yes, yes,’ said Nijel, in the maniacally glazed tones of one who is trying to see all sides of the issue and is certain that a solution will be found if people of goodwill will only sit around a table and discuss things rationally like sensible human beings. ‘But is this the right time? Is the world ready for the triumph of ice?’
‘It bloody veil better be,’ said the giant, and swung his glacier prod at Nijel. It missed the horse but caught him full in the chest, lifting him clean out of the saddle and flicking him on to the glacier itself. He spun, spreadeagled, down its freezing flanks, was carried some way by the boil of debris, and rolled into the slush of ice and mud between the speeding walls.
He staggered to his feet, and peered hopelessly into the freezing fog. Another glacier bore down directly on him.
So did Conina. She leaned over as her horse swept down out of the fog, caught Nijel by his leather barbarian harness, and swung him up in front of her.
As they rose again he wheezed, ‘Cold-hearted bastard. I really thought I was getting somewhere for a moment there. You just can’t talk to some people.’
The herd breasted another hill, scraping off quite a lot of it, and the Sto Plain, studded with cities, lay helpless before it.
Rincewind sidled towards the nearest Thing, holding Coin with one hand and swinging the loaded sock in the other.
‘No magic, right?’ he said.
‘Yes,’ said the boy.
‘Whatever happens, you musn’t use magic?’
‘That’s it. Not here. They haven’t got much power here, if you don’t use magic. Once they break through, though …’
His voice trailed away.
‘Pretty awful,’ Rincewind nodded.
‘Terrible,’ said Coin.
Rincewind sighed. He wished he still had his hat. He’d just have to do without it.
All right,’ he said. ‘When I shout, you make a run for the light. Do you understand? No looking back or anything. No matter what happens.’
‘No matter what?’ said Coin uncertainly.
‘No matter what.’ Rincewind gave a brave little smile. ‘Especially no matter what you hear.’
He was vaguely cheered to see Coin’s mouth become an ‘O’ of terror.
‘And then,’ he continued, ‘when you get back to the other side-’
‘What shall I do?’
Rincewind hesitated. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Anything you can. As much magic as you like. Anything. Just stop them. And … um …’
‘Yes?’
Rincewind gazed up at the Thing, which was still staring into the light.