The Rules

"So, where are we headed?" Mortimer asked the oppressive form of Death standing before him.

"Mmm. Can't say for sure, I'm afraid." Death rumbled back. "Depends on a lot of factors."

"Oh." Mortimer looked at the ground, worriedly. His gaze shifted over to his corpse, lying beside him on the bed. He swung his feet back and forth while he sat. "Not even a hint?"

"Sorry." Death shrugged. "Rules."

"Huh." Mortimer had sort of hoped that the afterlife, if there was one, would be lighter on rules than the... regular life. This was a disappointing start.

Death stood with the patience of eternity before Mortimer. Mortimer fidgeted a little.

"So, do you come for... everyone?"

Death nodded slowly. His voice echoed calmly, "Almost."

"One at a time?"

Death nodded again. "That's the rule."

"Oh." Mortimer stared up at the black shape before him, wondering how this one figure could possibly shepherd each death on to... whatever. It was like a grim Santa Clause. "Sounds exhausting."

Death laughed, a single sharp HA cracking out of his skeletal frame. It was a sound that very rarely escaped, and its unpractised shape took on the form of a bark as it erupted from the ancient figure.

It startled Mortimer.

Death smiled at the old man before him. He sat next to the man on the bed, his colossal frame not seeming to have any weight to it.

"Very." was all the icy voice of Death said in answer.

"Hm." Mortimer was profoundly confused.

The two of them sat on the bed for a time before Mortimer mustered up the courage to ask another question.

"Shouldn't we be going?" He indicated to the door.

"Oh yes." Death replied, unmoving.

Mortimer looked from Death to the door, and back again.

"So should I..." Mortimer began sliding off the bed towards the door.

"Patience, Mortimer." Death raised his hand slightly. "Time is something we have in abundance. Despite what they may tell you..." he grumbled.

"O... kay." Mortimer sat again.

"Besides," Death rumbled loudly, "Your wife will be joining us soon, and I thought it would be nice for you two to journey on together."

Mortimer cocked his head.

"I thought you said you took people one at a time?"

"I do." Death nodded.

"That it was the rules."

"It is." again, slowly Death nodded.

Mortimer tried to understand Death's logic, and failed.

Death put a frigid, bony hand on Mortimer's shoulder.

"Some things are worth bending the rules for, Mortimer." He grinned.

And at that moment, Jeanne appeared behind Death, beaming with a beauty that filled Mortimer's soul with the joy that had carried him through life, and he smiled.