Стража! Стража!

           Astohabitat,whatweareseeinghereissimplyachangeofbehaviourpattern,occasionedbythespreadofurbanareasintothecountrysidewhichhasledmanyhithertoruralcreaturestoadopt,nayinmanycasestopositivelyembrace,amoremunicipalmodeofexistence,andmanyofthemthriveonthenewopportunitiestherebyopenedtothem.Forexample,foxesarealwaysknockingovermydustbins."

           Hebeamed.He’dmanagedtogetallthewaythroughitwithoutactuallyneedingtoengagehisbrain.

           "Areyousaying,"saidtheassassinslowly,"thatwhatwe’vegothereisthefirstcivicdragon?"

           "That’sevolutionforyou,"saidthewizard,happily."Itshoulddowell,too,"headded."Plentyofnestingsites,andamorethanadequatefoodsupply."

           Silencegreetedthisstatement,untilthemerchantsaid."Whatexactlyisitthattheydoeat?"

           Thethiefshrugged."Iseemtorecallstoriesaboutvirginschainedtohugerocks,"hevolunteered.

           "It’llstarveroundhere,then,"saidtheassassin."We’reonloam."

           "Theyusedtogoaroundravening,"saidthethief."Dunnoifthat’sanyhelp..."

           "Anyway,"saidtheleaderofthemerchants,"itseemstobeyourproblemagain,mylord."

           FiveminuteslaterthePatricianwasstridingthelengthoftheOblongOffice,fuming.

           "Theywerelaughingatme,"saidthePatrician."Icouldtell!"

           "Didyousuggestaworkingparty?"saidWonse.

           "OfcourseIdid!Itdidn’tdothetrickthistime.Youknow,Ireallyaminclinedtoincreasetherewardmoney."