Стража! Стража!

           "Besides,"saidLordVetinari,"onewouldimaginethatsomeonewouldhavenoticed,wouldn’tyouagree?"

           Thecaptainnoddedatthewallanditsdreadfulfrieze."Apartfromthem,youmean,sir?"

           "Inmyopinion,"saidLordVetinari,"it’ssomekindofwarfare.Possiblyarivalganghashiredawizard.Alittlelocaldifficulty."

           "Couldbelinkedtoallthisstrangethieving,sir,"volunteeredWonse.

           "Butthere’sthefootprints,sir,"saidVimesdoggedly.

           "We’reclosetotheriver,"saidthePatrician."Possiblyitwas,perhaps,awadingbirdofsomesort.Amerecoincidence,"headded,"butIshouldcoverthemover,ifIwereyou.Wedon’twantpeoplegettingthewrongideaandjumpingtosillyconclusions,dowe?"headdedsharply.

           Vimesgavein.

           "Asyouwish,sir,"hesaid,lookingathissandals.

           ThePatricianpattedhimontheshoulder.

           "Nevermind,"hesaid."Carryon.Goodshowofinitiative,thatman.PatrollingintheShades,too.Welldone."

           Heturned,andalmostwalkedintothewallofchainmailthatwasCarrot.

           Tohishorror,CaptainVimessawhisnewestrecruitpointpolitelytothePatrician’scoach.Aroundit,fully-armedandwary,weresixmembersofthePalaceGuard,whostraightenedupandtookawaryinterest.Vimesdislikedthemintensely.Theyhadplumesontheirhelmets.Hehatedplumesonaguard.

           HeheardCarrotsay."Excuseme,sir,isthisyourcoach,sir?"andthePatricianlookedhimblanklyupanddownandsaid,"Itis.Whoareyou,youngman?"

           Carrotsaluted.