Стража! Стража!

           "Imean,colonelsandsoonarealwayssostuffy,majorsarepompous,butonealwaysfeelssomehowthatthereissomethingdelightfullydangerousaboutacaptain.Whatwasityouhadtoshowme?"

           Vimesgrippedhisparcellikeachastitybelt.

           "Iwondered,"hefaltered,"howbigswamp...er..."Hestopped.Somethingdreadfulwashappeningtohislowerregions.

           LadyRamkinfollowedhisgaze."Oh,takenonoticeofbun,"shesaidcheerfully."Hithimwithacushionifhe’sabother."

           AsmallelderlydragonhadcrawledoutfromunderhischairandplaceditsjowlymuzzleinVimes’slap.Itstaredupathimsoulfullywithbigbrowneyesandgentlydribbledsomethingquitecorrosive,bythefeelofit,overhisknees.Anditstankliketheringaroundanacidbath.

           "That’sDewdropMabellineTalonthrusttheFirst,"saidherladyship."Championandsireofchampions.Nofireleftnow,poorsoppyoldthing.Helikeshisbellyrubbed."

           Vimesmadesurreptitiouslyviciousjerkingmotionstodislodgetheolddragon.Itblinkedmournfullyathimwithrheumyeyesandrolledbackthecornerofitsmouth,exposingapicketfenceofsoot-blackenedteeth.

           "Justpushhimoffifhe’sanuisance,"saidLadyRamkincheerfully."Nowthen,whatwasityouwereasking?"

           "Iwaswonderinghowbigswampdragonsgrow?"saidVimes,tryingtoshiftposition.Therewasafaintgrowlingnoise.

           "Youcameallthewayupheretoaskmethat?Well...IseemtorecallGayheartTalonthrustofAnkhstoodfourteenthumbshigh,toetomatiock,"musedLadyRamkin.