YES, said Death - each phoneme dropping into place like a line of gravestones, unimpeded by the straw still clamped in his teeth. THE EFFECT IS TO PREVENT ACCESS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP. IN THE NAME OF EFFICIENCY, I SUPPOSE.

With that and its faint note of something far too professionally detached to be called disapproval, he fell silent again. Up ahead, a huddle of protesters cheered, if "cheer" were an appropriate description next to such grim faces.