Стража! Стража!

           Withtheslightlymiffedairofonewhohasruntheirfingeralongadaughter-in-law’stopshelfandfoundagainstallexpectationthatitissparklingclean,theGrandMastergotonwithit. 

           Whatashower,hetoldhimself.Abunchofincompetentsnoothersecretsocietywouldtouchwithaten-footSceptreofAuthority.Thesorttodislocatetheirfingerswitheventhesimplestsecrethandshake. 

           Butincompetentswithpossibilities,nevertheless.Lettheothersocietiestaketheskilled,thehopefuls,theambitious,theself-confident. He’dtakethewhiningresentfulones,theoneswithabellyfulofspiteandbile,theoneswhoknewtheycouldmakeitbigifonlythey’dbeengiventhechance. Givehimtheonesinwhichthefloodsofvenomandvindictivenessweredammedupbehindthinwallsofineptitudeandlow-gradeparanoia. 

           Andstupidity,too.They’veallsworntheoath,hethought,butnotamanjackof’emhasevenaskedwhatafigginis. 

           "Brethren,"hesaid."Tonightwehavemattersofprofoundimportancetodiscuss.Thegoodgovernance,nay,theveryfutureofAnkh-Morporkliesinourhands." 

           Theyleanedcloser.TheSupremeGrandMasterfeltthebeginningsoftheoldthrillofpower.Theywerehangingonhiswords.Thiswasafeelingworthdressingupinbloodysillyrobesfor. 

           "Dowenotwellknowthatthecityisinthralltocorruptmen,whowaxfatontheirill-gottengains,whilebettermenareheldbackandforcedintovirtualservitude?"