Стража! Стража!

           ThePatriciandislikedtheword’dictator.’Itaffrontedhim.Henevertoldanyonewhattodo.Hedidn’thaveto,thatwasthewonderfulpart.Alargepartofhislifeconsistedofarrangingmatterssothatthisstateofaffairscontinued.

           Ofcourse,therewerevariousgroupsseekinghisoverthrow,andthiswasrightandproperandthesignofavigorousandhealthysociety.No-onecouldcallhimunreasonableaboutthematter.Why,hadn’thefoundedmostofthemhimself?Andwhatwassobeautifulwasthewayinwhichtheyspentnearlyalltheirtimebickeringwithoneanother.

           Humannature,thePatricianalwayssaid,wasamarvellousthing.Onceyouunderstoodwhereitsleverswere.

           Hehadanunpleasantpremonitionaboutthisdragonbusiness.Ifevertherewasacreaturethatdidn’thaveanyobviouslevers,itwasadragon.Itwouldhavetobesortedout.

           ThePatriciandidn’tbelieveinunnecessarycruelty.Hedidnotbelieveinpointlessrevenge.Buthewasagreatbelieverintheneedforthingstobesortedout.

           Funnilyenough,CaptainVimeswasthinkingthesamething.Hefoundhedidn’tliketheideaofcitizens,evenoftheShades,beingturnedintoamereceramictint.

           AndithadbeendoneinfrontoftheWatch,moreorless.AsiftheWatchdidn’tmatter,asiftheWatchwasjustanirrelevantdetail.Thatwaswhatrankled.

           Ofcourse,itwastrue.Thatonlymadeitworse.

           Whatwasmakinghimevenangrierwasthathehaddisobeyedorders.Hehadscuffedupthetracks,certainly.