Стража! Стража!

           "Wecertainlydo!"saidBrotherDoorkeepervehemently,whenthey’dhadtimetotranslatethismentally."Onlylastweek,downattheBakers’Guild,ItriedtopointouttoMasterCritchleythat-"

           Itwasn’teyecontact,becausetheSupremeGrandMasterhadmadesuretheBrethren’shoodsshroudedtheirfacesinmysticdarkness,butneverthelesshemanagedtosilenceBrotherDoorkeeperbydintofsheeroutragedsilence.

           "Yetitwasnotalwaysthus,"theSupremeGrandMastercontinued."Therewasonceagoldenage,whenthoseworthyofcommandandrespectwerejustlyrewarded.AnagewhenAnkh-Morporkwasn’tsimplyabigcitybutagreatone.Anageofchivalry.Anagewhen-yes,BrotherWatchtower?"

           Abulkyrobedfigurelowereditshand."Areyoutalkingaboutwhenwehadkings?"

           "Welldone,Brother,"saidtheSupremeGrandMaster,slightlyannoyedatthisunusualevidenceofintelligence."And-"

           "Butthatwasallsortedouthundredsofyearsago,"saidBrotherWatchtower."Wasn’ttherethisgreatbattle,orsomething?Andsincethenwe’vejusthadtherulinglords,likethePatrician."

           "Yes,verygood,BrotherWatchtower."

           "Therearen’tanymorekings,isthepointI’mtryingtomake,"saidBrotherWatchtowerhelpfully.

           "AsBrotherWatchtowersays,thelineof-"

           "Itwasyoutalkingaboutchivalrythatgivemetheclue,"saidBrotherWatchtower.