Maskerade
Chapter One
The wind howled. The storm crackled on the mountains. Lightning prodded the crags like an old man trying to get an elusive blackberry pip out of his false teeth.
Among the hissing furze bushes a fire blazed, the flames driven this way and that by the gusts.
An eldritch voice shrieked: "When shall we...two...meet again?"
Thunder rolled.
A rather more ordinary voice said: "What'd you go and shout that for? You made me drop my toast in the fire."
Nanny Ogg sat down again.
"Sorry, Esme. I was just doing it for...you know...old time's sake...Doesn't roll off the tongue, though."
"I'd just got it nice and brown, too."
"Sorry."
"Anyway, you didn't have to shout."
"Sorry."
"I mean, I ain't deaf. You could've just asked me in a normal voice. And I'd have said, 'Next Wednesday.'"
"Sorry, Esme."
"Just you cut me another slice."
Nanny Ogg nodded, and turned her head. "Magrat, cut Granny ano...oh. Mind wandering there for a minute. I'll do it myself, shall I?"
"Hah!" said Granny Weatherwax, staring into the fire.
There was no sound for a while b ... read full excerpt from Maskerade ebook
