The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2)

by Terry Pratchett

Twoflower was a tourist, the first of the species to evolve on the Disc, and fundamental to his very existence was the rock-hard belief that nothing bad could really happen to him because he was not involved; he also believed that anyone could understand anything he said provided he spoke loudly and slowly, that people were basically trustworthy, and that anything could be sorted out among men of goodwill if they just acted sensibly.

“It’s the star, friend,” he said. “Haven’t you seen it in the sky?” “We couldn’t help noticing it, yes.” “They say that it’ll hit us on Hogswatchnight and the seas will boil and the countries of the Disc will be broken and kings will be brought down and the cities will be as lakes of glass,” said the man. “I’m off to the mountains.” “That’ll help, will it?” said Rincewind doubtfully. “No, but the view will be better.”