Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #2)

by Steven Erikson

We’ll catch a plague if we stay here much longer.’ ‘Let’s hope it’s the bluetongue, then,’ Kalam said. ‘What’s that?’ ‘Your tongue swells up and turns blue,’ Fiddler explained. ‘What’s so good about that?’ ‘You can’t talk.’

‘Where is the library?’ ‘Turn right, proceed thirty-four paces, turn right again, twelve paces, then through door on the right, thirty-five paces, through archway on right another eleven paces, turn right one last time, fifteen paces, enter the door on the right.’ Mappo stared at Iskaral Pust. The High Priest shifted nervously. ‘Or,’ the Trell said, eyes narrowed, ‘turn left, nineteen paces.’ ‘Aye,’ Iskaral muttered.