Стража! Стража!

           "I’llreadmybook,then,"saidCarrot."Andpolishmyhelmet."

           "Goodboy,"saidthecaptain.Itshouldbesafeenough,hethought.No-oneevercomesinhere,noteventoreportalostdog.No-oneeverthinksabouttheWatch.You’dhavetobereallyoutoftouchtogototheWatchforhelp,hethoughtbitterly.

           ScooneAvenuewasawide,tree-lined,andincrediblyselectpartofAnkh,highenoughabovetherivertobeawayfromitsall-pervadingsmell.PeopleinScooneAvenuehadoldmoney,whichwassupposedtobemuchbetterthannewmoney,althoughCaptainVimeshadneverhadenoughofeithertospotthedifference.PeopleinScooneAvenuehadtheirownpersonalbodyguards.PeopleinScooneAvenueweresaidtobesoalooftheywouldn’teventalktothegods.Thiswasaslightslander.Theywouldtalktogods,iftheywerewell-bredgodsofdecentfamily.

           LadyRamkin’shousewasnothardtofind.Itcommandedanoutcropthatgaveitamagnificentviewofthecity,ifthatwasyourideaofagoodtime.Therewerestonedragonsonthegatepost,andthegardenshadanunkemptovergrownlook.StatuesofRamkinslonggoneloomedupoutofthegreenery.Mostofthemhadswordsandwerecoveredinivyuptotheneck.

           Vimessensedthatthiswasnotbecausethegarden’sownerwastoopoortodoanythingaboutit,butratherthatthegarden’sownerthoughtthereweremuchmoreimportantthingsthanancestors,whichwasaprettyunusualpointofviewforanaristocrat.

           Theyalsoapparentlythoughtthatthereweremoreimportantthingsthanpropertyrepair.