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happens. They say I m not the right sort, but I say there d be many a family in
this town a good deal bigger and poorer if it wasn t for Madame Goatfounder s
Pennyroyal Preventives. I know who comes into my shop, I do. I remember who
buys buckeroo drops and ShoNuff Ointment, I do. Life isn t bad. And how is it
up in your village with the funny name?
Bad Ass, said Esk helpfully. She picked a small clay pot off the counter and
sniffed at its contents.
It is well enough, conceded Granny. The handmaidens of nature are ever in
demand.
Esk sniffed again at the powder, which seemed to be pennyroyal with a base
she couldn t quite identify, and carefully replaced the lid. While the two women
exchanged gossip in a kind of feminine code, full of eye contact and unspoken
adjectives, she examined the other exotic potions on display. Or rather, not on
display. In some strange way they appeared to be artfully half-hidden, as if Hilts
wasn t entirely keen to sell.
I don t recognise any of these, she said, half to herself. What do they give
to people?
Freedom, said Hilts, who had good hearing. She turned back to Granny.
How much have you taught her?
Not that much, said Granny. There s power there, but what kind I m not
sure. Wizard power, it might be.
Hilts turned around very slowly and looked Esk up and down.
Ah, she said, That explains the staff. I wondered what the bees were talking
about. Well, well. Give me your hand, child.
Esk held out her hand. Hilta s fingers were so heavy with rings it was like
dipping into a sack of walnuts.
Granny sat upright, radiating disapproval, as Hilts began to inspect Esk s palm.
I really don t think that is necessary, she said sternly. Not between us.
You do it, Granny, said Esk, in the village. I ve seen you. And teacups.
And cards.
Granny shifted uneasily. Yes, well, she said. It s all according. You just
hold their hand and people do their own fortune-telling. But there s no need to go
around believing it, we d all be in trouble if we went around believing everything.
The Powers That Be have many strange qualities, and puzzling and varied
are the ways in which they make their desires known in this circle of firelight we
call the physical world, said Hilts solemnly. She winked at Esk.
Well, really, snapped Granny.
No, straight up, said Hilts. It s true.
Hmph.
I see you going upon a long journey, said Hilts.
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Will I meet a tall dark stranger? said Esk, examining her palm. Granny
always says that to women, she says
No, said Hilts, while Granny snorted. But it will be a very strange journey.
You ll go a long way while staying in the same place. And the direction will be a
strange one. It will be an exploration.
You can tell all that from my hand?
Well, mainly I m just guessing, said Hilts, sitting back and reaching for the
teapot /the lead drummer, who had climbed halfway back, fell on to the toiling
cymbalists/. She looked carefully at Esk and added, A female wizard, eh?
Granny is taking me to Unseen University, said Esk.
Hilta raised her eyebrows. Do you know where it is?
Granny frowned. Not in so many words, she admitted. I was hoping you
could give me more explicit directions, you being more familiar with bricks and
things.
They say it has many doors, but the ones in this world are in the city of
Ankh-Morpork, said Hilta. Granny looked blank. On the Circle Sea, Hilta
added. Granny s look of polite enquiry persisted. Five hundred miles away, said
Hilta.
Oh, said Granny.
She stood up and brushed an imaginary speck of dust off her dress.
We d better be going, then, she added.
Hilta laughed. Esk quite liked the sound. Granny never laughed, she merely
let the corners of her mouth turn up, but Hilta laughed like someone who had
thought hard about Life and had seen the joke.
Start tomorrow, anyway, she said. I ve got room at home, you can stay with
me, and tomorrow you ll have the light.
We wouldn t want to presume, said Granny.
Nonsense. Why not have a look around while I pack up the stall?
Ohulan was the market town for a wide sprawling countryside and the mar-
ket day didn t end at sunset. Instead, torches flared at every booth and stall and
light blared forth from the open doorways of the inns. Even the temples put out
coloured lamps to attract nocturnal worshippers.
Hilta moved through the crowd like a slim snake through dry grass, her entire
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