Стража! Стража!

           EventheLibrarianfeltfavoured,andforoncehadletthephrase’myman’passwithoutcomment.

           Atricklingnoiseandastrongchemicalsmellpromptedthemtolookaround.

           GoodboyBindleFeatherstonewassquattingwithanairofsheepishinnocencealongsidewhatwasnotsomuchastainonthecarpetasaholeinthefloor.Afewwispsofsmokewerecurlingupfromtheedges.

           LadyRamkinsighed.

           "Don’tyouworry,ma’am,"volunteeredNobbycheerfully."Soonhavethatcleanedup."

           "I’mafraidthey’reoftenlikethatwhenthey’reexcited,"shesaid.

           "Finespecimenyougotthere,ma’am,"Nobbywenton,revellinginthenew-foundexperienceofsocialintercourse.

           "It’snotmine,"shesaid."Itbelongstothecaptainnow.Orallofyou,perhaps.Asortofmascot.HisnameisGoodboyBindleFeatherstone."

           GoodboyBindleFeatherstoneboreupstoicallyundertheweightofthename,andsniffedatableleg.

           "HelooksmorelikemybrotherErrol,"saidNobby,playingthecheekychirpylovablecitysparrowcardforallitwasworth."Gotthesamepointednose,excusemeforsayingso,milady."

           Vimeslookedatthecreature,whichwasinvestigatingitsnewenvironment,andknewthatitwasnow,irrevocably,anErrol.Thelittledragontookanexperimentalbiteoutofthetable,cheweditforafewseconds,spatitout,curledupandwenttosleep.

           "Heain’tgoingtosetfiretoanything,ishe?"saidthesergeantanxiously.

           "Idon’tthinkso.