Стража! Стража!

           Helookedatthenoteshe’dmadeyesterday:

           Itym:Heavydraggon,butyetitcanflyerightwelle;

           Itym:Thefyrebemainhot,yetissuethfromanelivingThinge;

           Itym:TheSwampdragonsberightPoorThinges,yetthismonstrousFormwaxethfullmightily;

           Itym:Fromwhenceitcomethnoneknowe,norwitheritgoeth,norwhereitbidethbetweentimes;Itym:Whyforediditburnethsoneatlie?

           Hepulledthepenandinktowardshimand,inaslowroundhand,added:

           Itym:Canadraggonbedestroyedintoutterlyenoe-thinge?

           Hethoughtforawhile,andcontinued:

           Itym:WhyforediditExplodethatnoonemayfindIt,searchtheygreatly?

           Apuzzler,that.LadyRamkinsaidthatwhenaswampdragonexplodedtherewasdragoneverywhere.Andthisonehadbeenadamngreatthing.Admittedlyitsinsidesmusthavebeenanalchemicalnightmare,butthecitizensofAnkh-Morporkshouldstillhavebeenspendingthenightshovellingdragonoffthestreets.No-oneseemedtohavebotheredaboutthis.Thepurplesmokewasquiteimpressive,though.

           Errolfinishedoffthecokeandstartedonthefireirons.Sofarthiseveninghehadeatenthreecobblestones,adoorknob,somethingunidentifiablehe’dfoundinthegutterand,togeneralastonishment,threeofCut-me-ownThroat’ssausagesmadeofgenuineporkorgans.Thecrunchingofthepokergoingdownmingledwiththepatterofrainonthewindows.

           Vimesstaredatthepaperagainandthenwrote:

           Itym:HowcanKingescomeofnoethinge?

           Hehadn’tevenseentheladcloseto.