Another roar greeted his words.

‘But now, today, this very hour, we are going to take the fight to the Gods! Go up to the Earth and capture our captors! Cast them beneath Stonehenge to rot! The Gods have imprisoned us all for too long! We are going to fight! And we are going to WIN!’

A third mighty cheer rose up. They were eating out of the palm of his hand.

‘Er . . . exthcuthe me, Thanatoth,’ called Sisyphus, propping up his bolder on a nearby hill. ‘But I think it’th only thenthible that people undertht and the conthequentheth of their actionth.’

‘The consequence will be VICTORY!’ roared Thanatos, to a new rousing cheer.

‘That’th all thuper,’ said Sisyphus. ‘But what happenth if we looth?’

The roar came to sudden and uncertain halt.

‘He’s got a point,’ whispered a nearby satyr. ‘Hadn’t thought about that. This could be terrible for my CV . . .’

‘It’s unthinkable,’ said Thanatos, trying to keep the irritation from his voice. ‘We have right on our side! We will WIN!’

A notably less enthusiastic cheer greeted him this time.

‘But if we do lose . . .’ muttered a Sphynx a little further back. ‘I’ve got a family to support. What if the Gods win? What if I can’t go back to my job? I’ve already used all my holiday leave . . . What if—’

‘These are not concerns that need trouble you, my friend,’ Thanatos said smoothly. ‘When I rule the world, I will take care of the immortals. No longer will you have to work. The world will be ours, cleansed of the mortal scum who have overrun it for too long. The few remaining mortals will be our slaves. They will work for us.’

‘Hang on a minute,’ shouted a Nereid. ‘I didn’t sign up for that! I like the mortals! Who else are we going to watch on The Human Channel?’

‘I thought this was a peaceful protest!’ cried a unicorn.

‘I thought this was the queue for the cashpoint,’ shouted a mermaid.

‘I CAN’T TALK,’ a fairy bellowed into her mobile. ‘I MIGHT BE PART OF A MASSIVE REBELLION. OR NOT.’

‘I don’t want any part of it,’ grumbled a wood nymph.

‘I’m going home,’ said a gnome, slinging his fishing rod over his shoulder and looking around for the exit.

‘Friends, be calm,’ Thanatos insisted over the rising grumble. ‘I can assure you that this is a necessary step to—’

An almighty red thunderclap stunned everyone into silence.

‘My son is talking!’ screeched Nyx from high above. ‘You will be silent! You will obey! Or you will face my fury! Now, has anyone else got anything they’d like to say?!’

She unleashed another bolt of red lightning from her fingertips. The troops appeared to understand her point.

‘Thank you, Mother,’ said Thanatos with a forced smile.

‘Mummy’s boy,’ giggled Hypnos.