Стража! Стража!

           Hetookhishandawayhurriedly.

           "It’sallright,"saidLadyRamkin."It’shisstomachsrumbling.Thatmeanshelikesyou."

           Tohisamazement,Vimesfoundthathewasratherpleasedaboutthis.Asfarashecouldrecall,nothinginhislifebeforehadthoughthimworthaburp.

           "Ithoughtyouwere,er,goingtogetridofhim,"hesaid.

           "IsupposeIshallhaveto,"shesaid."Youknowhowitis,though.Theylookupatyouwiththosebig,soulfuleyes-"

           Therewasabrief,mutual,awkwardsilence.

           "HowwoulditbeifI-"

           "Youdon’tthinkyoumightlike-"

           Theystopped.

           "It’dbetheleastIcoulddo,"saidLadyRamkin.

           "Butyou’realreadygivingusthenewheadquartersandeverything!"

           "Thatwassimplymydutyasagoodcitizen,"saidLadyRamkin."PleaseacceptGoodboyas,asafriend."

           Vimesfeltthathewasbeinginchedoutoveraverydeepchasmonaverythinplank.

           "Idon’tevenknowwhattheyeat,"hesaid.

           "They’reomnivores,actually,"shesaid."Theyeateverythingexceptmetalandigneousrocks.Youcan’tbefinicky,yousee,whenyouevolveinaswamp."

           "Butdoesn’theneedtobetakenforwalks?Orflights,orwhatever?"

           "Heseemstosleepmostofthetime."Shescratchedtheuglythingontopofitsscalyhead."He’sthemostrelaxeddragonI’veeverbred,Imustsay."

           "Whatabout,er,youknow?"Heindicatedthedungingfork.

           "Well,it’smainlygas.Justkeephimsomewherewellventilated.