Стража! Стража!

           "Ithoughtsomeonewouldhaveago,"saidColon."Poorbugger’llbebakedinhisownarmour."

           Thisseemedtobetheopinionofthecrowdsliningtheplaza.ThepeopleofAnkh-Morporkhadastraightforward,no-nonsenseapproachtoentertainment,andwhiletheywerelookingforwardtoseeingadragonslain,they’dbehappytosettleinsteadforseeingsomeonebeingbakedaliveinhisownarmour.Youdidn’tgetthechanceeverydaytoseesomeonebakedaliveintheirownarmour.Itwouldbesomethingforthechildrentoremember.

           Vimeswasjostledandbouncedaroundbythecrowdasmorepeoplefloodedintotheplazabehindthem.

           Thehornsoundedathirdchallenge.

           "That’saslug-horn,thatis,"saidColonknowledgeably."Likeatocsin,onlydeeper."

           "Yousure?"saidNobby.

           "Yep."

           "Itmusthavebeenabloodybigslug."

           "Peanuts!Figgins!Hotsausages!"whinedavoicebehindthem."Hallo,lads.Hallo,CaptainVimes!Inatthedeath,eh?Haveasausage.Onthehouse."

           "What’sgoingon,Throat?"saidVimes,clingingtothevendor’strayasmorepeoplespilledaroundthem.

           "Somekid’sriddenintothecityandsaidhe’dkillthedragon,"saidCut-me-own-Throat."Gotamagicsword,hesays."

           "Hashegotamagicskin?"

           "You’vegotnoromanceinyoursoul,Captain,"

           saidThroat,removingaveryhottoastingforkfromthetinyfryingpanonhistrayandapplyingitgentlytothebuttockofalargewomaninfrontofhim."Standaside,madam,commerceisthelifebloodofthecity,thankyouverymuch.