Rattle, rattle, rattle
The dice rattled around in the player’s hand before scattering onto the board.
TEN, the player said. Max thought the leaden words contained a slight smugness, even though the player’s face was hidden by the cowl of his black robe.
Tap, tap, tap
The little boot made its way around the board.
AH, THE WATER WORKS. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE LOST.
A rustle of paper as the £150 of unreal money was put into the plastic slots in the box that comprised the bank.
Max’s brow furrowed slightly. “You think having both the utilities means you’re going to win?”
AND ALL FOUR STATIONS.
“That doesn’t mean you’ve won. That just means you have all four stations and both utilities,” Max said as he picked up the dice. “I think you’re just trying to scare me.”
Rattle
SEVEN. YOU WERE LUCKY THIS TIME.
Max moved his top hat around the board, passing the newly acquired water works, Regent Street, and narrowly avoiding going to jail.
“Euston Road, and now I have all the greens.” Max said, suppressing a smirk.
GREEN WAS NEVER MY COLOUR. His opponent picked up the dice. OF COURSE, YOU COULD SURRENDER, I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH ALL THIS. YOU’RE ONLY DELAYING THE INEVITABLE.
“That’s all life is, isn’t it? Delaying the inevitable,” Max smiled. “Even if the inevitable is taxes.”
The dice rattled in the player’s hand before clattering into the middle of the board.
“Three, hah!” Max smiled. “That will be £52, please.”
DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS WORTH THE EFFORT? His opponent said, handing over the little pieces of paper.
Max looked across the darkened hospital room, at his wife asleep in the chair beside the bed. He clenched his teeth.
“Yes. I absolutely think this is worth it.”
Max tossed the dice at the board and they bounced noisily in the quiet room. A wry smile appeared on his face. “Six. I do believe that it is you who have lost.”
Moving his top hat along the board, Max stared at the figure sat opposite.
I WILL ADMIT THIS MAY PRESENT A CHALLENGE, the player conceded as Max counted out the £350 of toy money to pay for Park Lane. OF COURSE THE GAME ISN’T OVER YET, YOU DON’T GET OFF THAT EASY.
“You think this is easy?” Max asked. “Getting two monopolies on one side of the board?”
FOR YOU, IT IS EASIER TO FIGHT. YOU WON’T CONSIDER THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO LET GO. IN TIME YOU MAY REGRET THIS.
“I’ll have to live in order to regret it.”
The dark figure nodded before picking up the dice. IN MY JOB, ONE MUST HAVE COMPASSION. THE COMPASSION TO REMOVE PAIN, TO END SUFFERING. MY COMPASSION IS SHARP, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL.
“What if I don’t want to end my suffering?”
THAT, the player said, rolling the dice, IS WHY WE ARE PLAYING.
“Eight. Mayfair, and one thousand four hundred pounds.” The smile was gone from Max’s face.
YOU HAVE WON. I CAN NOT PAY THE RENT.
Max nodded, his face sombre and fixed.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MUST NOW ENDURE?
Another nod. “I know,” he said.
I HOPE YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
“I made the only choice. We’re small, and weak, and frightened, and ignorant. But if we can’t go on, we can’t be any better than how small and weak and frightened and ignorant we are when we’re born.”
I CAN NOT FIX YOU, ONLY LEAVE YOU HERE, Death said as he rose from his seat. He picked up his scythe that had been leaning against the wall. SHOULD YOU REGRET YOUR DECISION, YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME.
Max watched as the tall, dark figure strode towards the door.
“Yes,” he said quietly, “I know where to find you.”
— — — — —
I want to point out a couple of things here. 1) This is based on the UK Monopoly board, which is the one I grew up with. 2) This is inspired from the game of Exclusive Possession from the Discworld series, in which Death (note the capitalisation) is a constant and much loved character. And yes, he is characterised by his speach being in all caps. 3) Yes, Max’s character was named for Von Sydow, star of The Seventh Seal which was itself the inspiration for Sir Terry Pratchett’s scene. 4) This was written for The Weekly Knob, but it wasn’t ready on time.
