The Fourth Age: Section One In a quiet corner of the room sat Pesce.

This is, of course, the Pesce of whom tales were afterwards told amongst younger students, fellows and tourists alike. But that day, as Pesce thought on the terrible things that had been done to Don Uovo, no-one took any notice of her whatsoever. She sat, dimly aware of anxious voices talking softly and hurriedly. We need to strike back hard, said Fino. How can we? From such a position of weakness as this? So you would rather crumble into nothing than make an end worthy of memory? This is still business, Fino; now the Llamas are invulnerable whilst they have the Porters on their side. We cant strike against them now. There was silence as all considered the truth of what had been said. Ever afterward, Pesce wondered what would have happened had she not said what she then did. I, Pesce friend of Uovo, will wreak vengeance on our enemies. Doubtful eyes turned towards her. They want to meet me, right? Set up a meeting on neutral territory the Mathematical Bridge. There Ill kill them. Fino laughed, you, little Pesce friend of Uovo, no, you would not be able. Listen. If there is a weapon concealed on the bridge so as to leave the Llamas unsuspecting of my intentions, I can strike with the element of surprise. How will you escape after the deed is done? asked Fino, no longer mocking. There is one way I know of, she said. The Mathematical Bridge spans the vast body of water separating light from dark. The Cam, as it is known in the local dialect, has consumed many a student foolish enough to walk alone across the bridge and be ambushed by the gremlins that cling to its underside. The Llama boss stood aside to let someone across the bridge and greeted Pesce. Im glad you came Pesce friend of Uovo. I hope we can straighten everything out. Well straighten Pesce paused to let some tourists across the bridge, well straighten everything out tonight. Then the noble Don Uovo may be in peace." Then Pesce reached adeptly round the one of the beams of the bridge and withdrew a knitting needle. She plunged it deep into the heart of the man

opposite her. He gasped. His face took on an almost serene expression as he sank to his knees. Then collegefolk began to notice something, and all at once a cry of Murder went up. Pesce saw two porters running towards her and for a moment she knew not what to do; she saw blood on her hands. Then she felt a jolt as if regaining consciousness. She vaulted over the side of the bridge and let herself fall downwards towards the cold expanse of water below. The porters stopped and watched as she fell, surely to be dashed upon the sharp rocks just beneath the surface of the Cam. But then, as they turned away presuming Pesce dead, a punt glided from under the bridge, Pesce landed safely in it and, in an instant, was gone.

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