Стража! Стража!

           Hewashelplesstopreventhimselfbeingtakenouttothekennelsattheback,outfittedfromnecktoankleinleatherarmourfacedwithsteelplates,andusheredintothelonglowbuildingwherethewhistlinghadcomefrom.

           Thetemperaturewasterrible,butnotasbadasthecocktailofsmells.Hestaggeredaimlesslyfromonemetal-linedpentoanother,whilepear-shaped,squeakinglittlehorrorswithredeyeswereintroducedas"MoonpennyDuchessMarchpaine,who’sgravidatthemoment"and"MoonmistTalonthrustII,whowasBestofBreedatPseudopolislastyear".Jetsofpalegreenflameplayedacrosshisknees.

           Manyofthestallshadrosettesandcertificatespinnedoverthem.

           "Andthisone,I’mafraid,isGoodboyBindleFeatherstoneofQuirm,"saidLadyRamkinrelentlessly.

           Vimesstaredgroggilyoverthecharredbarrieratthesmallcreaturecurledupinthemiddleofthefloor.ItboreaboutthesameresemblancetotherestofthemasNobbydidtotheaveragehumanbeing.Somethinginitsancestryhadgivenitapairofeyebrowsthatwereaboutthesamesizeasitsstubbywings,whichcouldneverhavesupporteditintheair.Itsheadwasthewrongshape,likeananteater.Ithadnostrilslikejetintakes.Ifitevermanagedtogetairbornethethingswouldhavethedragoftwinparachutes.

           ItwasalsoturningonCaptainVimesthemostsilentlyintelligentlookhe’deverhadfromanyanimal,includingCorporalNobbs.

           "Ithappens,"saidLadyRamkinsadly."It’salldowntogenes,youknow."

           "Itis?"saidVimes.