'All that . . . stuff . . . she was saying, when we were travelling. It was so ... so cold. Wasn't it? Not wishing for things, not using magic to help people, not being able to do that fire thing - and then she went and did all those things! What am I supposed to make of that?'
'Ah, well,' said Nanny. 'It's all according to the general and the specific, right?'
'What does that mean?' Magrat lay down on the bed.
'Means when Esme uses words like “Everyone” and “No-one” she doesn't include herself.'
'You know . . . when you think about it ... that's terrible.'
'That's witchcraft. Up at the sharp end. And now . . . get some sleep.'
Magrat was too tired to object. She stretched out and was soon snoring in a genteel sort of way.
Nanny sat and smoked her pipe for a while, staring at the wall.
Then she got up and pushed open the door.
Mrs Gogol looked up from her stool by the bed.
'You go and get some sleep too,' said Nanny. 'I'll take over for a spell.'
"There's something not right,' said Mrs Gogol. 'Her hands are fine. She just won't wake up.'
'It's all in the mind, with Esme,' said Nanny.
'I could make some new gods and get everyone to believe in 'em real good. How about that?' said Mrs Gogol. Nanny shook her head.
'I shouldn't think Esme'd want that. She's not keen on gods. She thinks they're a waste of space.'
'I could cook up some gumbo, then. People'll come a long way to taste that.'
'It might be worth a try,' Nanny conceded. 'Every little helps, I always say. Why not see to it? Leave the rum here.'
After the voodoo lady had gone Nanny smoked her pipe some more and drank a little rum in a thoughtful sort of way, looking at the figure on the bed.
Then she bent down close to Granny Weatherwax's ear, and whispered:
'You ain't going to lose, are you?'
Granny Weatherwax looked out at the multi-layered, silvery world.
'Where am I?'
INSIDE THE MIRROR.
'Am I dead?'
THE ANSWER TO THAT, said Death, is SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN NO AND YES.
Esme turned, and a billion figures turned with her.
'When can I get out?'
WHEN YOU FIND THE ONE THAT'S REAL.
'Is this a trick question?'