Стража! Стража!

           Thoseeyeswere,forthemoment,focusedonErrol,whowasgoingfrantic.Vimesrealisedthatallthatstoodbetweenhimandamilliondegreesofheatwasthedragon’svagueinterestinwhyVimeshadasmallerdragonunderhisarm.

           "Don’tmakeanysuddenmoves,"saidLadyRamkin’svoicebehindhim."Anddon’tshowfear.Theycanalwaystellwhenyou’reafraid."

           "Isthereanyotheradviceyoucanofferatthistime?"saidVimesslowly,tryingtospeakwithoutmovinghislips.

           "Well,ticklingthembehindtheirearsoftenworks."

           "Oh,"saidVimesweakly.

           "Andagoodsharp’no!’andtakingawaytheirfoodbowl."

           "Ah?"

           "AndhittingthemonthenosewitharollofpaperiswhatIdoinextremecases."

           Intheslow,brightly-outlined,desperateworldVimeswasnowinhabiting,whichseemedtorevolvearoundthecraggynostrilsafewmetresawayfromhim,hebecameawareofagentlehissingsound.

           Thedragonwastakingadeepbreath.

           Theintakeofairstopped.Vimeslookedintothedarknessoftheflameductsandwonderedwhetherhe’dseeanything,whetherthere’dbesometinywhitegloworsomething,beforefieryoblivionsweptoverhim.

           Atthatmomentahornrangout.

           Thedragonraiseditsheadinapuzzledwayandmadeanoisethatsoundedvaguelyinterrogativewithoutbeinginanywayaword.

           Thehornrangoutagain.Thenoiseseemedtohaveanumberofechoesthatlivedalifeoftheirown.Itsoundedlikeachallenge.