Стража! Стража!

           "I’mmoreinwhatyoumightcalltheservicesector,Cap’n."Throatlookedbothwaysconspiratorially,andthenpassedVimesaslipofparchment.

           Itsaid:

           Anti-dragonmirrorshieldsA$500

           PortablelairdetectorsA$250

           Dragon-piercingarrowsA$100pereach

           ShovelsA$5PicksA$5SacksA$l

           Vimeshandeditback."Whythesacks?"hesaid.

           "Onaccountofthehoard,"saidThroat.

           "Oh,yes,"saidVimesgloomily."Ofcourse."

           "Tellyouwhat,"saidThroat,"tellyouwhat.Forourboysinbrown,tenpercentoff."

           "Andyou’recuttingyourownthroat,Throat?"

           "Fifteenpercentforofficers!"urgedThroat,asVimeswalkedaway.Thecauseoftheslightpanicinhisvoicewassoonapparent.Hehadplentyofcompetition.

           ThepeopleofAnkh-Morporkwerenotbynatureheroicbutwere,bynature,salesmen.InthespaceofafewfeetVimescouldhaveboughtanynumberofmagicalweaponsGenuinecertyfycateoforthenticitywitheveryone,acloakofinvisibility-agoodtouch,hethought,andhewasreallyimpressedbythewaythestallownerwasusingamirrorwithnoglassinit-and,bywayoflighterrelief,dragonbiscuits,balloonsandwindmillsonsticks.Copperbraceletsguaranteedtobringrelieffromdragonswereanicethought.

           Thereseemedtobeasmanysacksandshovelsaboutastherewereswords.

           Gold,thatwasit.Thehoard.Hah!

           Fiftythousanddollars!AnofficeroftheWatchearnedthirtydollarsamonthandhadtopaytohavehisowndentsbeatenout.

           Whathecouldn’tdowithfiftythousanddollars...