No caminho para o trabalho, estive pensando sobre a Morte (o personagem Discworld, não a coisa real) e as regras a seguir. Lembrei-me de uma cena que o faz parecer um antagonista óbvio.
Em Color of Magic, Twoflower explica o conceito de seguro para o proprietário do Broken Drum, Broadman:
"Tavern fights are pretty common around here, I expect?"
"Oh, fairly."
"No doubt fixtures and fittings get damaged?"
"Fixt - oh, I see. You mean like benches and whatnot. Yes, I suppose so."
"That must be upsetting for the innkeepers."
"I’ve never really thought about it. I suppose it must be one of the risks of the job."
Twoflower regarded him thoughtfully.
"I might be able to help there." he said. "Risks are my business."
No entanto, tudo que o proprietário entendeu foi que "Se minha propriedade for danificada, receberei dinheiro”Como visto mais adiante:
Down in the cellar Broadman looked up, muttered to himself, and carried on with his work. His entire spindlewinter's supply of candles had already been strewn on the floor, mixed with his store of kindling wood. Now he was attacking a barrel of lamp oil. "inn-sewer-ants" he muttered. Oil gushed out and swirled around his feet
Ele não conseguiu incendiar sua propriedade sozinho - seu tinderbox estava úmido. Qual é o motivo da minha pergunta:
A lighted taper appeared in mid-air, right beside him.
Hᴇʀᴇ, ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs.
"Thanks," said Broadman.
Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ɪᴛ.
The Discworld O wiki descarta completamente o papel da morte:
The Great Fire Of Ankh-Morpork was caused by Broadman the owner of the Broken Drum, when he tried to burn down the bulding
Existe alguma explicação (no universo) sobre quais eram os motivos da morte aqui? Quero dizer, ele sabia claramente o que está prestes a acontecer. Fora do universo, permitiu uma cena dramática impressionante, é claro:
Broadman went to throw the taper down the steps. His hand paused in mid-air. He looked at the taper, his brow furrowing. Then he turned around and held the taper up to illuminate the scene. It didn't shed much light, but it did give the darkness a shape...
"Oh, no" he breathed.
Bᴜᴛ ʏᴇs, said Death.
O fechamento da cena também quase implica que não foi Broadman quem atirou a tocha.