Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5)

by Terry Pratchett

WIZZARD

“Hit a man too hard and you can only rob him once; “Hit him just hard enough and you can rob him every week.”

History told of a runner who’d run forty miles after a battle to report its successful outcome to those at home. He was traditionally regarded as the greatest runner of all time, but if he’d been reporting news of an impending battle he’d have been overtaken by Rincewind. And yet … someone was gaining.

“It’s a million-to-one chance,” he said, “but it might just work…”

Because Rincewind knew very well that when the Four rather small and nasty Horsemen of Panic ride out there is a good job done by Misinformation, Rumor, and Gossip, but they are as nothing compared to the fourth horseman, whose name is Denial.

SORRY. Rincewind froze, both hands clutching his aching foot. He knew only one person with a voice like a cemetery in midwinter. He tried to hop backwards, and collided with another horse. RINCEWIND, ISN’T IT? said Death. YES. GOOD EVENING. I DON’T BELIEVE YOU HAVE MET WAR. RINCEWIND, WAR. WAR, RINCEWIND.