Стража! Стража!

           Theleadermadewhathehopedwasavaguelyconciliatorygesture,butunfortunatelydiditwiththehandthatwasstillholdingaknife.

           "Dropit,"saidVimessharply,"oryou’rehistory."

           Theknifeclangedontheflagstones.Therewasascuffleatthebackofthecrowdasanumberofpeople,metaphoricallyspeaking,werealongwayawayandknewnothingaboutit.

           "Butbeforetherestofyougoodcitizensdispersequietlyandgoaboutyourbusiness,"saidVimesmeaningfully,"Isuggestyoulookhardatthesedragons.Doanyofthemlooksixtyfeetlong?Wouldyousaythey’vegotaneighty-footwingspan?Howhotdotheyflame,wouldyousay?"

           "Dunno,"saidtheleader.

           Vimesraisedthedragon’sheadslightly.Theleaderrolledhiseyes.

           "Dunno,sir,"hecorrected.

           "Doyouwanttofindout?"

           Theleadershookhishead.Buthedidmanagetofindhisvoice.

           "Whoareyou,anyway?"hesaid.

           Vimesdrewhimselfup."CaptainVimes,CityWatch,"hesaid.

           Thismetwithalmostcompletesilence.Theexceptionwasthecheerfulvoice,somewhereinthebackofthecrowd,whichsaid:"Nightshift,isit?"

           Vimeslookeddownathisnightshirt.Inhishurrytogetoffhissickbedhe’dshuffledhastilyintoapairofLadyRamkin’sslippers.Forthefirsttimehesawtheyhadpinkpompomsonthem.

           AnditwasatthismomentthatLordMountjoyQuickfangWinterforthIVchosetobelch.

           Itwasn’tanotherstabofroaringfire.Itwasjustanear-invisibleballofdampflamewhichrolledoverthemobandsingedafeweyebrows.