Стража! Стража!

           "Peoplearen’tgoingtosailherewithacargoofrarecomestiblesjusttohaveitincinerated,arethey?"

           "Gentlemen!Gentlemen!"ThePatricianraisedhishandsinaconciliatoryfashion."Itseemstome,"hewenton,takingadvantageofthebriefpause,"thatwhatwehavehereisastrictlymagicalphenomenon.Iwouldliketohearfromourlearnedfriendonthispoint.Hmm?"

           SomeonenudgedtheArchchancellorofUnseenUniversity,whohadnoddedoff.

           "Eh?What?"saidthewizard,startledintowakefulness.

           "Wewerewondering,"saidthePatricianloudly,"whatyouwereintendingtodoaboutthisdragonofyours?"

           TheArchchancellorwasold,butalifetimeofsurvivalintheworldofcompetitivewizardryandthebyzantinepoliticsofUnseenUniversitymeantthathecouldwhipupadefensiveargumentinasplitsecond.Youdidn’tremainArchchancellorforlongifyouletthatsortofingenuousremarkwhizzpastyourear.

           "Mydragon?"hesaid.

           "It’swellknownthatthegreatdragonsareextinct,"saidthePatricianbrusquely."And,besides,theirnaturalhabitatwasdefinitelyrural.Soitseemstomethatthisonemustbemag-"

           "Withrespect,LordVetinari,"saidtheArchchancellor,"ithasoftenbeenclaimedthatdragonsareextinct,butthecurrentevidence,ifImaymakesobold,tendstocastacertaindoubtonthetheory.