Стража! Стража!

           Somehow,thecreatureseemedtobeconcentratingallthepoweritssiblingswastedinflameandnoiseintoastarelikeathermiclance.Hecouldn’thelprememberinghowmuchhe’dwantedapuppywhenhewasalittleboy.Mindyou,they’dbeenstarving-anythingwithmeatonitwouldhavedone.

           Heheardthedragonladysay,"Onetriestobreedforagoodflame,depthofscale,correctcolourandsoon.Onejusthastoputupwiththeoccasionaltotalwhittle."

           ThelittledragonturnedonVimesagazethatwouldbeguaranteedtowinittheawardforDragontheJudgeswouldMostLiketoTakeHomeandUseasAPortableGasLighter.

           Totalwhittle,Vimesthought.Hewasn’tsureoftheprecisemeaningoftheword,buthecouldhazardashrewdguess.Itsoundedlikewhateveritwasyouhadleftwhenyouhadextractedeverythingofanyvaluewhatsoever.LiketheWatch,hethought.Totalwhittles,everyoneofthem.Andjustlikehim.Itwasthesagaofhislife.

           "That’sNatureforyou,"saidherladyship."OfcourseIwouldn’tdreamofbreedingfromhim,buthewouldn’tbeabletoanyway."

           "Whynot?"saidVimes.

           "Becausedragonshavetomateintheairandhe’llneverbeabletoflywiththosewings,I’mafraid.I’llbesorrytolosethebloodline,naturally.HissirewasBrendaRodley’sTreebiteBrightscale.DoyouknowBrenda?"

           "Er,no,"saidVimes.LadyRamkinwasoneofthosepeoplewhoassumedthateveryoneelsekneweveryoneoneknew.

           "Charminggel.Anyway,hisbrothersandsistersareshapingupverywell."