Стража! Стража!

           Hegotseveralyardsbeforetheessentialbadjudgementofthismovedawnedonhim.

           Hewent"Gngh".Hisvertebraeandkneesweretryingtofuseintoonelump.Purplespotsflashedonandoffinfrontofhiseyes.Ontopofitall,somethingunfamiliarbutapparentlymadeofwhalebonewaspokingsharplyintothebackofhisneck.

           Hemanagedafewmorestepsbysheermomentum,knowingthatwhenhestoppedhewasgoingtobeutterlycrushed.TheRamkinshadn’tbredforbeauty,they’dbredforhealthysolidityandbigbones,andthey’dgotverygoodatitoverthecenturies.

           Agoutoflividdragonfirecrackledintotheflagstonesafewfeetaway.

           Afterwardshewonderedifhe’donlyimaginedleapingseveralinchesintotheairandcoveringtherestofthedistancetothehorsetroughatarespectablerun.Perhaps,inextremis,everyonelearnedthekindofinstantmovementthatwassecondnaturetoNobby.Anyway,thehorsetroughwasbehindhimandLadyRamkinwasinhisarms,oratleastwaspinninghisarmstotheground.Hemanagedtofreethemandtriedtomassageabitoflifeback.Whatdidyoudonext?Shedidn’tseemtobeinjured.Herecalledsomethingaboutlooseningaperson’sclothing,butinLadyRamkin’scasethatmightbedangerouswithoutspecialtools.

           Shesolvedtheimmediateproblembygrabbingtheedgeofthetroughandhaulingherselfupright.

           "Right,"shesaid,"it’stheslipperforyou-"HereyesfocusedonVimesforthefirsttime.

           "Whatthehell’sgoingon-"shebeganagain,andthencaughtthesceneoverhisshoulder.