The Light Fantastic (Discworld 2)

'Well, no, of course not, but – I mean, she's seventeen and you're, you're, how can I put it, you're of the elderly persuasion.'

'Time I shettled down, you mean?'

Rincewind groped for words. 'You're seventy years older than her, Cohen. Are you sure that —'

'I have been married before, you know. I've got quite a good memory,' said Cohen reproachfully.

'No, what I mean is, well, I mean physically, the point is, what about, you know, the age difference and everything, t's a matter of health, isn't it, and —'

'Ah,' said Cohen slowly, 'I shee what you mean. The strain. I hadn't looked at it like that.'

'No,' said Rincewind, straightening up. 'No, well, that's only to be expected.'

'You've given me something to think about and no mishtake,' said Cohen.

'I hope I haven't upset anything.'

'No, no,' said Cohen vaguely. 'Don't apologishe. You were right to point it out.'

He turned and looked at Bethan, who waved at him, and then he looked up at the star that glared through the mists.

Eventually he said, 'Dangerous times, these.'

'That's a fact.'

'Who knows what tomorrow may bring?'

'Not me.'

Cohen clapped Rincewind on the shoulder. 'Shome-timesh we jusht have to take rishks,' he said. 'Don't be offended, but I think we'll go ahead with the wedding anyway and, well,' he looked at Bethan and sighed, 'we'll just have to hope she's shtrong enough.'

Around noon the following day they rode into a small, mud-walled city surrounded by fields still lush and green. There seemed to be a lot of traffic going the other way, though. Huge carts rumbled past them. Herds of livestock ambled along the crown of the road. Old ladies stomped past carrying entire households and haystacks on their backs.

'Plague?' said Rincewind, stopping a man pushing a handcart full of children.

He shook his head. 'It's the star, friend,' he said. 'Haven't you seen it in the sky?'

'We couldn't help noticing it, yes.'

They say that it'll hit us on Hogswatchnight and the seas will boil and the countries of the Disc will be broken nd kings will be brought down and the cities will be as lakes of glass,' said the man. 'I'm off to the mountains.'

'That'll help, will it?' said Rincewind doubtfully.

'No, but the view will be better.'

Rincewind rode back to the others.

'Everyone's worried about the star,' he said. 'Apparently there's hardly anyone left in the cities, they're all frightened of it.'

'I don't want to worry anyone,' said Bethan, 'but hasn't it struck you as unseasonably hot?'

'That's what I said last night,' said Twoflower. 'Very warm, I thought.'

'I shuspect it'll get a lot hotter,' said Cohen. 'Let'sh get on into the city.'

They rode through echoing streets that were practically deserted. Cohen kept peering at merchants' signs until he reined his horse and said, 'Thish ish what I've been looking for. You find a temple and a priesht, I'll join you shortly.'

'A jeweller?' said Rincewind.