Стража! Стража!

           Poorlittlebastard,thoughtVimes.That’sNatureforyouinanutshell.Alwaysdealingoffthebottomofthepack.

           Nowondertheycallheramother...

           "Yousaidyouhadsomethingtoshowme,"LadyRamkinprompted.

           Vimeswordlesslyhandedhertheparcel.Sheslippedoffherheavymittensandunwrappedit.

           "Plastercastofafootprint,"shesaid,baldly."Well?"

           "Doesitremindyouofanything?"saidVimes.

           "Couldbeawadingbird."

           "Oh."Vimeswascrestfallen.

           LadyRamkinlaughed."Orareallybigdragon.Gotitoutofamuseum,didyou?"

           "No.Igotitoffthestreetthismorning."

           "Ha?Someone’sbeenplayingtricksonyou,oldchap."

           "Er.Therewas,er,circumstantialevidence."

           Hetoldher.Shestaredathim.

           "Draconobilis,"shesaidhoarsely.

           "Pardon?"saidVimes.

           "Draconobilis.TheNobledragon.Asopposedtothesefellows-"shewavedahandinthedirectionofthemassedranksofwhistlinglizards-"Dracovul-garis,thelotofthem.Butthebigonesareallgone,youknow.Thisreallyisanonsense.Notwowaysaboutit.Allgone.Beautifulthings,theywere.Weighedtons.Biggestthingsevertofly.No-oneknowshowtheydidit."

           Andthentheyrealised.

           Itwassuddenlyveryquiet.

           Allalongtherowsofkennels,thedragonsweresilent,bright-eyedandwatchful.Theywerestaringattheroof.

           Carrotlookedaroundhim.Shelvesstretchedawayineverydirection.Onthoseshelves,books.Hemadeacalculatedguess.

           "ThisistheLibrary,isn’tit?"hesaid.