The abbot swung himself off the bed and walked towards Mort through the ranks of his bereaved followers.
'Don't rush off,' he said. 'I always look forward to these talks. What's happened to the usual fellow?'
'Usual fellow?' said Mort, bewildered.
Tall chap. Black cloak. Doesn't get enough to eat, by the look of him,' said the abbot.
'Usual fellow? You mean Death?' said Mort.
'That's him,' said the abbot, cheerfully. Mort's mouth hung open.
'Die a lot, do you?' he managed.
'A fair bit. A fair bit. Of course,' said the abbot, 'once you get the hang of it, it's only a matter of practice.'
'It is?'
'We must be off,' said the abbot. Mort's mouth snapped shut.
'That's what I've been trying to say,' he said.
'So if you could just drop me off down in the valley,' the little monk continued placidly. He swept past Mort and headed for the courtyard. Mort stared at the floor for a moment, and then ran after him in a way which he knew to be extremely unprofessional and undignified.
'Now look —' he began.
'The other one had a horse called Binky, I remember,' said the abbot pleasantly. 'Did you buy the round off him?'
The round?' said Mort, now completely lost.
'Or whatever. Forgive me,' said the abbot, 'I don't really know how these things are organised, lad.'
'Mort,' said Mort, absently. 'And I think you're supposed to come back with me, sir. If you don't mind,' he added, in what he hoped was a firm and authoritative manner. The monk turned and smiled pleasantly at him.
'I wish I could,' he said. 'Perhaps one day. Now, if you could give me a lift as far as the nearest village, I imagine I'm being conceived about now.'
'Conceived? But you've just died!' said Mort.
'Yes, but, you see, I have what you might call a season ticket,' the abbot explained.
Light dawned on Mort, but very slowly.
'Oh,' he said, 'I've read about this. Reincarnation, yes?'
That's the word. Fifty-three times so far. Or fifty-four.'
Binky looked up as they approached and gave a short neigh of recognition when the abbot patted his nose. Mort mounted up and helped the abbot up behind him.
'It must be very interesting,' he said, as Binky climbed away from the temple. On the absolute scale of small talk this comment must rate minus quite a lot, but Mort couldn't think of anything better.
'No, it mustn't,' said the abbot. 'You think it must be because you believe I can remember all my lives, but of course I can't. Not while I'm alive, anyway.'
'I hadn't thought of that,' Mort conceded.
'Imagine toilet training fifty times.'
'Nothing to look back on, I imagine,' said Mort.
'You're right. If I had my time all over again I wouldn't reincarnate. And just when I'm getting the hang of things, the lads come down from the temple looking for a boy conceived at the hour the old abbot died. Talk about unimaginative. Stop here a moment, please.'