Стража! Стража!

           Itwasn’taswoop.Itsimplykickedawayfromthetopofthetowerandhalf-fell,half-flewstraightdownwards,disappearingfromviewbehindtheUniversitybuildings.

           Vimescaughthimselflisteningforthethump.

           Andthenthedragonwasinviewagain,movinglikeanarrow,movinglikeashootingstar,movinglikesomethingthathassomehowturnedathirty-twofeetpersecondplummetintoanunstoppableupwardswoop.Itglidedovertherooftopsatlittlemorethanheadheight,allthemorehorriblebecauseofthesound.Itwasasthoughtheairwasslowlyandcarefullybeingtorninhalf.

           TheWatchthrewthemselvesflat.Vimescaughtaglimpseofhuge,vaguelyhorse-likefeaturesbeforeitslidpast.

           "Soddingarseholes,"saidNobby,fromsomewhereintheguttering.

           Vimesredoubledhisgriponthechimneyandpulledhimselfupright."Youareinuniform,CorporalNobbs,"hesaid,hisvoicehardlyshakingatall.

           "Sorry,Captain.Soddingarseholes,sir."

           "Where’sSergeantColon?"

           "Downhere,sir.Holdingontothisdrainpipe,sir."

           "Oh,forgoodnesssake.Helphimup,Carrot."

           "Gosh,"saidCarrot,"lookatitgo!"

           Youcouldtellthepositionofthedragonbytherattleofarrowsacrossthecity,andbythescreamsandgurglesofallthosehitbythemissesandricochets.

           "Hehasn’tevenflappedhiswingsyet!"shoutedCarrot,tryingtostandonthechimneypot."Lookathimgo!"

           Itshouldn’tbethatbig,Vimestoldhimself,watchingthehugeshapewheelovertheriver.