Witches Abroad (Discworld 12)

They reached the comparative security of the roadway and leaned against the wall.

'Snakes?' Nanny wheezed. Magrat opened her eyes.

'It's Lily's doing,' said Granny. 'She was good at that kind of thing, I remember.'

'Really snakes?'

'Yeah,' said Granny darkly. 'She made friends easily.'

'Blimey! I couldn't do that.'

'She didn't used to be able to either, for more'n a few seconds. That's what using mirrors does for you.'

'I - I -' Magrat stuttered.

'You're all right,' said Nanny. She looked up at Esme Weatherwax.

'We shouldn't leave the girl, whatever you say. In a house with snakes walking around thinking they're human,' she said.

'It's worse than that. They're walking around thinking they're snakes,' said Granny.

'Well, whatever. You never do that sort of thing. The worst you ever did was make people a bit confused about what they was.'

'That's because I'm the good one,' said Granny bitterly.

Magrat shuddered.

'So are we going to get her out?' said Nanny.

'Not yet. There's going to be a proper time,' said Granny. 'Can you hear me, Magrat Garlick?'

'Yes, Granny,' said Magrat.

'We've got to go somewhere and talk,' said Granny. 'About stories.'

'What about stories?' said Magrat.

'Lily is using them,' said Granny. 'Don't you see that? You can feel it in this whole country. The stories collect round here because here's where they find a way out. She feeds 'em. Look, she don't want your Ella to marry that Duc man just because of politics or something. That's just an ... explanation. 'S not a reason. She wants the girl to marry the prince because that's what the story demands.'

'What's in it for her?' said Nanny.

'In the middle of 'em all, the fairy godmother or the wicked witch . . . you remember? That's where Lily is putting herself, like . . . like . . .' she paused, trying to find the right word. 'Remember that time last year when the circus thing came to Lancre?'

'I remember,' said Nanny. 'Them girls in the spangly tights and the fellows pourin' whitewash down their trousers. Never saw a elephant, though. They said there'd be elephants and there wasn't any. It had elephants on the posters. I spent a whole tuppence and there wasn't a single ele - '

'Yes, but what I'm sayin',' said Granny, as they hurried along the street, 'is there was that man in the middle, you remember. With the moustache and the big hat?'

'Him? But he didn't do anything much,' said Nanny. 'He just stood in the middle of the tent and sometimes he cracked his whip and all the acts just went on round him.'

"That's why he was the most important one there,' said Granny. 'It was the things going on around him that made him important.'

'What's Lily feeding the stories?' said Magrat.

'People,' said Granny. She frowned.

'Stories!' she said. 'Well, we'll have to see about that. . .'

Green twilight covered Genua. The mists curled up from the swamp.