Стража! Стража!

           "Sorry?"

           "Oh,myfatherhadpropertyalloverthecity,"shesaid."Quiteuselesstome,really.SoItoldmyagenttogiveSergeantColonthekeystotheoldhouseinPseudopolisYard.It’lldoitgoodtobeaired."

           "Butthatarea-Imean,there’srealcobblesonthestreets-therentalone,Imean,LordVetinariwon’t-"

           "Don’tyouworryaboutit,"shesaid,givinghimafriendlypat."Now,youreallyoughttogetsomesleep."

           Vimeslayinbed,hismindracing.PseudopolisYardwasontheAnkhsideoftheriver,inquiteahigh-rentdistrict.ThesightofNobbyorSergeantColonwalkingdownthestreetindaylightwouldprobablyhavethesameeffectontheareaastheopeningofaplaguehospital.

           Hedozed,glidinginandoutofasleepwheregiantdragonspursuedhimwavingjarsofointment...

           Andawoketothesoundofamob.

           LadyRamkindrawingherselfuphaughtilywasnotasighttoforget,althoughyoucouldtry.Itwaslikewatchingcontinentaldriftinreverseasvarioussubcontinentsandislandspulledthemselvestogethertoformonemassive,angryprotowoman.

           Thebrokendoorofthedragonhouseswungonitshinges.Theinmates,alreadyashighlystrungasaharponamphetamines,weregoingmad.Littlegoutsofflameburstagainstthemetalplatesastheystampededbackandforthintheirpens."Hwhat,"shesaid,"isthemeaningofthis?"IfaRamkinhadeverbeengiventointrospectionshe’dhaveadmittedthatitwasn’taveryoriginalline.

           Butitwashandy.Itdidthejob.