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.Instead,the offending mage removed the dogend from his lips with trembling fingers andground it into the floor.Trymon exulted.So, he thought, they do what I say.Just for now, maybe butjust for now is enough.He peered at the crabby writing of a wizard long dead. Right, he said, let s see: To Appease Yt, The Thynge That Ys TheGuardian. The crowd surged over one of the bridges that linked Morpork with Ankh.Below it the river, turgid at the best of times, was a mere trickle which steamed.The bridge shook under their feet rather more than it should.Strange ripplesran across the muddy remains of the river.A few tiles slid off the roof of a nearbyhouse. What was that? said Twoflower.Bethan looked behind them, and screamed.The star was rising.As the Disc s own sun scurried for safety below the hori-zon the great bloated ball of the star climbed slowly into the sky until the wholeof it was several degrees above the edge of the world.132 They pulled Rincewind into the safety of a doorway.The crowd hardly noticedthem, but ran on, terrified as lemmings. The star s got spots on, said Twoflower. No, said Rincewind. They re.things.Things going around the star.Like the sun goes around the Disc.But they re close in, because, because.he paused. I nearly know! Know what? I ve got to get rid of this Spell! Which way is the University? said Bethan. This way! said Rincewind, pointing along the street. It must be very popular.That s where everyone s going. I wonder why? said Twoflower. Somehow, said Rincewind, I don t think it s to enroll for evening classes.In fact Unseen University was under siege, or at least those parts of it that ex-truded into the usual, everyday dimensions were under siege.The crowds outsideits gates were, generally, making one of two demands.They were demanding thateither a) the wizards should stop messing about and get rid of the star or, and thiswas the demand favoured by the star people, that b) they should cease all magicand commit suicide in good order, thus ridding the Disc of the curse of magic andwarding off the terrible threat in the sky.The wizards on the other side of the walls had no idea how to do a) and nointention of doing b) and many had in fact plumped for c), which largely consistedof nipping out of hidden side doors and having it away on their toes as far aspossible, if not faster.What reliable magic still remained in the University was being channelledinto keeping the great gates secure.The wizards were learning that while it wasall very fine and impressive to have a set of gates that were locked by magic, itought to have occurred to the builders to include some sort of emergency back-updevice such as, for example, a pair of ordinary, unimpressive stout iron bolts.In the square outside the gates several large bonfires had been lit, for effect asmuch as anything else, because the heat from the star was scorching. But you can still see the stars, said Twoflower, the ther stars, I mean.Thelittle ones.In a black sky.Rincewind ignored him.He was looking at the gates.A group of star peopleand citizens were trying to batter them down. It s hopeless, said Bethan. We ll never get in.Where are you going? For a walk, said Rincewind.He was setting off determinedly down a sidestreet.There were one or two freelance rioters here, mostly engaged in wreckingshops.Rincewind took no notice, but followed the wall until it ran parallel to adark alley that had the usual unfortunate smell of all alleys, everywhere.133 Then he started looking very closely at the stonework.The wall here wastwenty feet high, and topped with cruel metal spikes. I need a knife, he said. You re going to cut your way through? said Bethan. Just find me a knife, said Rincewind.He started to tap stones.Twoflower and Bethan looked at each other, and shrugged.A few minuteslater they returned with a selection of knives, and Twoflower had even managedto find a sword. We just helped ourselves, said Bethan. But we left some money, said Twoflower. I mean, we would have left somemoney, if we d had any So he insisted on writing a note, said Bethan wearily.Twoflower drew himself up to his full height, which was hardly worth it. I see no reason he began, stiffly. Yes, yes, said Bethan, sitting down glumly. I know you don t.Rincewind,all the shops have been smashed open, there was a whole bunch of people acrossthe street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that? Yeah, said Rincewind, picking up a knife and testing its blade thoughtfully. Luters, I expect.He thrust the blade into the wall, twisted it, and stepped ack as a heavy stonefell out.He looked up, counting under his breath, and levered another stone fromits socket. How did you do that? said Twoflower. Just give me a leg up, will you? said Rincewind.A moment later, his feetwedged into the holes he had created, he was making further steps halfway up thewall. It s been like this for centuries, his voice floated down. Some of the stoneshaven t got any mOrtar.Secret entrance, see? Watch out below.Another stone cracked into the cobbles. Students made it long ago, said Rincewind. Handy way in and out afterlights out. Ah, said Twoflower, I understand.Over the wall and out to brightly-littavernas to drink and sing and recite poetry, yes? Nearly right except for the singing and the poetry, yes, said Rincewind. Acouple of these spikes should be loose There was a clang. There s not much of a drop this side, came his voice after a few seconds.134 Come on, then.If you re coming.And so it was that Rincewind, Twoflower and Bethan entered Unseen Univer-sity.Elsewhere on the campusThe eight wizards inserted their keys and, with many a worried glance at oneanother, turned them.There was a faint little snicking sound as the lock slid open.The Octavo was unchained.A faint octarine light played across its bindings.Trymon reached out and picked it up, and none of the others objected.Hisarm tingled.He turned towards the door. Now to the Great Hall, brothers, he said, if I may lead the way And there were no objections
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