Стража! Стража!

           Thethirdattemptwentupwards,forminganactiniccolumnthateventuallyrosefiftyorsixtyfeetintheair,appearedtostabilise,andstartedtospinslowly.

           Vimesfeltthatacommentwascalledfor.Hesaid:"Arrgh."

           Asthelightrevolveditsentoutthinzigzagstreamersthatjitteredawayacrosstherooftops,sometimesdipping,sometimesdoublingback.Searching.

           ErrolranupVimes’sbackinaflurryofclawsandfastenedhimselffirmlyonhisshoulder.TheexcruciatingagonyrecalledtoVimesthattherewassomethingheshouldbedoing.Wasittimetoscreamagain?Hetriedanother"Arrgh".No,probablynot.

           Theairstartedtosmelllikeburningtin.

           LadyRamkin’scoachrattledintotheplazamakinganoiselikearoulettewheelandpoundedstraightforVimes,stoppinginaskidthatsentitjudderingaroundhiasemicircleandforcedthehorseseithertofacetheotherwayorplaittheirlegs.Afuriousvisioninpaddedleather,gauntlets,tiaraandthirtyyardsofdamppinktulleleaneddowntowardshimandscreamed:"Comeon,youbloodyidiot!"

           Oneglovecaughthimunderhisunresistingshoulderandhauledhimbodilyontothebox.

           "Andstopscreaming!"thephantomordered,focusinggenerationsofnaturalauthorityintofoursyllables.Anothershoutspurredthehorsesfromabewilderedstandingstarttoafullgallop.

           Thecoachbouncedawayovertheflagstones.Anexploratorytendrilofflickeringlightbrushedthereinsforamomentandthenlostinterest.