He sat bewildered as seven fireballs rose out of the blackness and plunged into the discarded Octavo, which suddenly looked its old self and far more interesting.
'Oh dear,' he said. 'I suppose they're the Spells.'
'Twoflower.' The voice was hollow and echoing, and just recognisable as Rincewind's.
Twoflower stopped with his hand halfway to the book.
'Yes?' he said. 'Is that – is that you, Rincewind?'
'Yes,' said the voice, resonant with the tones of the grave. 'And there is something very important I want you to do for me, Twoflower.'
Twofiower looked around. He pulled himself together. So the fate of the Disc would depend on him, after all.
'I'm ready,' he said, his voice vibrating with pride. 'What is it you want me to do?'
'First, I want you to listen very carefully,' said Rincewind's disembodied voice patiently.
'I'm listening.'
It's very important that when I tell you what to do you don't say “What do you mean?” or argue or anything, understand?'
Twoflower stood to attention. At least, his rnind stood to attention, his body really couldn't. He stuck out several of his chins.
'I'm ready,' he said.
'Good. Now, what I want you to do is —'
'Yes?'
Rincewind's voice rose from the depths of the stairwell.
'I want you to come and help me up before I lose my grip on this stone,' it said.
Twoflower opened his mouth, then shut it quickly. He ran to the square hole and peered down. By the ruddy light of the star he could just make out Rincewind's eyes looking up at him.
Twoflower lay down on his stomach and reached out. Rincewind's hand gripped his wrist in the sort of grip that told Twoflower that if he, Rincewind, wasn't pulled up then there was no possible way in which that grip was going to be relaxed.
'I'm glad you're alive,' he said.
'Good. So am I,' said Rincewind.
He hung around in the darkness for a bit. After the past few minutes it was almost enjoyable, but only almost.
'Pull me up, then,' he hinted.
'I think that might be sort of difficult,' grunted Twoflower. 'I don't actually think I can do it, in fact.'
'What are you holding on to, then?'
'You.'
'I mean besides me.'
'What do you mean, besides you?' said Twoflower.
Rincewind said a word.
'Well, look,' said Twoflower. The steps go around in a spiral, right? If I sort of swing you and then you let go —'