Стража! Стража!

           CorporalNobbsprovednothing;youcouldbedeadandseesomethinglikeCorporalNobbs.

           Ankh-Morporkdidnothavemanyhospitals.AlltheGuildsmaintainedtheirownsanitariums,andtherewereafewpubliconesrunbytheodderreligiousorganisations,liketheBalancingMonks,butbyandlargemedicalassistancewasnonexistentandpeoplehadtodieinefficiently,withouttheaidofdoctors.ItwasgenerallythoughtthattheexistenceofcuresencouragedslacknessandwasinanycaseprobablyagainstNature’sway.

           "HaveIalreadysaid’WhereamI?’"saidVimesfaintly.

           "Yes."

           "DidIgetananswer?"

           "Dunnowherethisplaceis,Captain.Itbelongstosomeposhbint.Shesaidtobringyouuphere."

           EventhoughVimes’smindappearedtobefullofpinktreacleheneverthelessgrabbedtwocluesandwrestledthemtogether.Thecombinationof’rich’and’uphere’meantsomething.Sodidthestrangechemicalsmellintheroom,whichevenoverpoweredNobby’smoreeverydayodours.

           "We’renottalkingaboutLadyRamkin,arewe?"hesaidcautiously.

           "Youcouldberight.Greatbigbiddy.Madfordragons."Nobby’srodentfacebrokeintothemosthorriblyknowinggrinVimeshadeverseen."You’reinherbed,"hesaid.

           Vimespeeredaroundhim,feelingthefirstoverturesofavaguepanic.Becausenowthathecouldhalfwayfocus,hecouldseeacertainlackofbachelorsocknessabouttheplace.Therewasafainthintoftalcumpowder.

           "Bitofaboodwah,"saidNobby,withtheairofaconnoisseur.