"Sure he's expecting you anyway, if we go through the tunnel it will be quicker..."
"Tunnel?" asked Angua, she wondered how many other things she had forgotten.
"Don't you remember the old escape tunnel where we used to play as pups?"
"I.... I don't know it's all so confused" absentmindedly she scratched her arm.
"We'll have to change we can't fit through in human form."
Karl unsaddled the horse and left the tack in a little room off to the side that Angua had failed to notice. She walked into the room, it was full of clothes, torches anything you might need if hiding out or escaping. Karl went outside to let the horse go, so she quickly undressed and placed the clothes in a pile with the others. Then she morphed into a wolf again. The Von Uberwaldes had always been able to change at will, unlike other werewolves who had to rely on the lunar cycle. Karl trotted back in, his clothes held firmly between his teeth and dumped them in a corner. He playfully nipped her ear, then turned and an out the room heading for the back wall. Angua followed and noticed a small hole in the corner with Karl rapidly disappearing into it. The tunnel stretched on twisting, turning, up and down. At some points it got quite tight, but Angua didn't mind this for it gave her opportunity to rub her sides along it, relieving the irritation caused by the fleas. On and on they went, until at last they entered a cold dark room, this was the cellars of the castle, she followed him on and up until they came into a brightly lit corridor, ending in a huge staircase. Karl dived up the stairs with Angua hot on his heals.
"KARL!!!" A voice shouted from behind them. They stopped dead and slowly turned to see a man standing at the bottom of the stairs. Angua sniffed and then whimpered.
"Who's that you've got there, Karl, come on lad speak up"
The man sniffed the air
"Angua? "SERAFINE, SERAFINE COME QUICK SHE'S HERE" he boomed.
A woman came out of a door close by
"What is it Guye? Who's here.......?" She stopped in her tracks and looked at the two wolves on the stairs
"Angua, you made it, oh my dear it is so good to see you, you've been away so long," She ran up the stairs and wrapped her arms round Angua's neck.
"Come my dear lets go find you some clothes." Angua followed her up the stairs and through one of the multitude of doors.
Left on the stairs, Guye and Karl looked at one another.
"Well done, son, I knew I could count on you to bring her home."

After morphing back, Angua looked closely at Serafine, trying hard to remember her. "Erm...It's nice to meet you,...erm?" Serafine was shocked,
"Angua? I'm your mother!"
Angua's eyes filled with tears, "I don't remember....I....need to go back, something has happened to him...." Serafine gave her a questioning look,
"Who, Angua?"
"Carrot! Something's wrong, I know it!"
"Your father and I aren't happy about you seeing that young man, he's different from you. He's a full time participant in the human race!"
"...I remember....you telling me, I think, but I must go back to him.....Please,...help me."

*****

Vimes was sitting in Carrot's room, it had been 2 days and there hadn't been the slightest twitch from Carrot. Cheery knocked on the door and walked in.
"I thought I'd find you in here Mr. Vimes, you've hardly left the Watchouse since....the incident. Her Ladyship is worried about you, sir. Sir? I really came to tell you..."
"I'm getting worried, Cheery. Carrot hasn't even stirred. You wouldn't think a crossbow bolt, would do as much harm as the knife injury to that young Stibbons lad, but apparently, they're both in the same condition. Doughnut Jimmy says that they would both live with their injuries without the poisoning, obviously, Stibbons' recovery would take longer...But with this poisoning...I...really don't think that either of them will make it."
"I know that, sir, but I really think you ought to know.." Her voice trailed off as a tired figure walked through the door.
"ANGUA?" exclaimed Vimes, "Where the HELL have you been?"
"Someone's been killed haven't they?" she gasped. Cheery looked at her in astonishment,
"How on the Disc do you know that?"
"Cheery, you know that I get feelings about this sort of thing, and I'm sure that Mr. Vimes would back me up if I told you that I'm generally right."
Vimes nodded. "...It's not...Carrot is it...?" Vimes and Cheery looked at each other,
"No, Angua." said Cheery, confidently. "I came to tell you sir, and you Angua, now you're here, that I found someone in the Shades. Sergeant Detritus is trying to find out the identity....." Angua noticed Carrot,
"So, what happened to Carrot?" she asked in fearful tones.......

*****

In a world just a shadows-depth away there was a room. It spanned the length of infinity and yet was no bigger than any normal room. In the centre of the room was the desk, and the chair, and the occupant, who sat staring into space (the whole of space, not just the metaphorical space humans use when they use the same phrase).
Albert looked up and said something, but Death was not paying much attention.
"IM SORRY, SAY AGAIN?"
"I said its your move, sir." Albert repeated.
Death sighed, a sound as hollow as the infinite void and looked dxown to inspect the chessboard. Albert slouched on the other end of the desk, his chin rested in his arms as he lay across the tabletop. At first he was enthusiastic about teaching The Master chess. He often complained about mortals who would challenged him to the game, only to find that the ultimate reality did not know the rules. But his enthusiasm vanished as soon as he had seen the set. Thirty-two expertly carved pieces, with detail that defied any tool, all of them JET BALCK! It was going to be a long day. Death made his move. It was swift, and the last thing Albert had expected him to do.