Стража! Стража!

           "Allright,allright,"mutteredVimes."Itwasjustathought.Itwasn’tthatdramatic."

           Errolstoppedinmid-crunch.

           Veryslowly,asthoughitwasmountedonverysmooth,well-oiledbearings,thedragon’sheadturnedtofaceupwards.

           Whatitwasstaringatintentlywasapatchofemptyair.Therewasn’tmuchelseyoucouldsayaboutit.

           Vimesshiveredunderhiscape.Thiswasdaft.

           "Look,don’tmuckabout,"hesaid,"there’snothingthere."

           Errolstartedtotremble.

           "It’sjusttherain,"saidVimes."Goon,finishyourbottle.Nicebottle."

           Athin,worriedkeeningnoisebrokefromthedragon’smouth.

           "I’llshowyou,"saidVimes.HecastaroundandspottedoneofThroat’ssausages,castasidebyahungryrevellerwhohaddecidedhewasnevergoingtobethathungry.Hepickeditup.

           "Look,"hesaid,andthrewitupwards.

           Hefeltsure,watchingitstrajectory,thatitoughttohavefallenbacktotheground.Itshouldn’thavefallenaway,asifhe’ddroppeditneatlyintoatunnelinthesky.Andthetunnelshouldn’thavebeenlookingbackathim.

           Vividpurplelightninglashedfromtheemptyairandstruckthehousesonthenearsideoftheplaza,skitteringacrossthewallsforseveralyardsbeforesinkingoutwithasuddennessthatalmostdeniedthatithadeverhappenedatall.

           Theniteruptedagain,thistimehittingtherimwardwall.Thelightbrokewhereithitintoanetworkofsearchingtendrilsspreadingacrossthestones.