Стража! Стража!

           Itwasoneofthosebottlesthatemptiedthemselves.Reasontoldhimthatsometimeshemustoccasionallystartone,breaktheseal,seeamberliquidglisteningallthewayuptotheneck.Itwasjustthathecouldn’trememberthesensation.Itwasasifthebottlesarrivedtwo-thirdsempty...

           Hestaredatthelabel.ItseemedtobeJimkinBear-hugger’sOldSelectedDragon’sBloodWhiskey.Cheapandpowerful,youcouldlightfireswithit,youcouldcleanspoons.Youdidn’thavetodrinkmuchofittobedrunk,whichwasjustaswell.

           ItwasNobbywhoshookhimawakewiththenewsthattherewasadragoninthecity,andalsothatSgtColonhadhadanastyturn.Viniessatandblinkedowlishlywhilethewordswashedaroundhim.Apparentlyhavingafire-breathinglizardfocusinginterestedlyonone’snetherregionsfromadistanceofafewfeetcanupsetthestrongestconstitution.Anexperiencelikethatcouldleavealastingmarkonaperson.

           VimeswasstilldigestingthiswhenCarrotturnedupwiththeLibrarianswingingalongbehindhim.

           "Didyouseeit?Didyouseeit?"hesaid.

           "Weallsawit,"saidVimes.

           "Iknowallaboutit!"saidCarrottriumphantly."Someone’sbroughtitherewithmagic.Someone’sstolenabookoutoftheLibraryandguesswhatit’scalled?"

           "Can’tevenbeginto,"saidVimesweakly.

           "It’scalledTheSummoningofDragons!"

           "Oook,"confirmedtheLibrarian.

           "Oh?What’sitabout?"saidVimes.TheLibrarianrolledhiseyes.

           "It’sabouthowtosummondragons.Bymagic!"

           "Oook."