Стража! Стража!

           Whenherangthebelloftheratherpleasantoldhouseitself,inthemiddleofaflourishingrhododendronforest,severalbitsoftheplasterfacadefelloff.

           Thatseemedtobetheonlyeffect,exceptthatsomethingroundthebackofthehousestartedtohowl.Somethings.

           Itstartedtorainagain.AfterawhileVimesfeltthedignityofhispositionandcautiouslyedgedaroundthebuilding,keepingwellbackincaseanythingelsecollapsed.

           Hereachedaheavywoodengateinaheavywoodenwall.Incontrastwiththegeneraldecrepitudeoftherestoftheplace,itseemedcomparativelynewandverysolid.

           Heknocked.Thiscausedanotherfusilladeofstrangewhistlingnoises.

           Thedooropened.Somethingdreadfulloomedoverhim.

           "Ah,goodman.Doyouknowanythingaboutmating?"itboomed.

           ItwasquietandwarmintheWatchHouse.Carrotlistenedtothehissingofsandinthehourglassandconcentratedonbuffinguphisbreastplate.Centuriesoftarnishhadgivenupunderhischeerfulonslaught.Itgleamed.

           Youknewwhereyouwerewithashinybreastplate.Thestrangenessofthecity,wheretheyhadalltheselawsandconcentratedonignoringthem,wastoomuchforhim.Butashinybreastplatewasabreastplatewellshined.

           Thedooropened.Hepeeredacrossthetopoftheancientdesk.Therewasno-onethere.

           Hetriedafewmoreindustriousrubs.

           Therewasthevaguesoundofsomeonewhohadgotfedupwithwaiting.Twopurple-fingernailedhandsgraspedtheedgeofthedesk,andtheLibrarian’sfaceroseslowlyintoviewlikeanearly-morningcoconut.