Стража! Стража!

           "Ohsod,"shesaid."PardonmyKlatchian."

           Errolwasrunningoutofenergy.Thestubbywingswereindeedincapableofrealflight,andhewasremainingairbornesolelybyflappingmadly,likeachicken.Thegreattalonsswishedthroughtheair.Oneofthemcaughtoneoftheplaza’sfountains,anddemolishedit.

           ThenextoneswattedErrolneatly.

           HeshotoverVimes’sheadinastraightrisingline,hitaroofbehindhim,andsliddownit.

           "You’vegottocatchhim!"shoutedLadyVimes."Youmust!It’svital!"

           Vimesstaredather,andthendivedforwardasErrol’spear-shapedbodyslitheredovertheedgeoftheroofanddropped.Hewassurprisinglyheavy.

           "Thankgoodness,"saidLadyRamkin,strugglingtoherfeet."Theyexplodesoeasily,youknow.Itcouldhavebeenverydangerous."

           Theyrememberedtheotherdragon.Itwasn’ttheexplodingsort.Itwasthekilling-peoplekind.Theyturned,slowly.

           Thecreatureloomedoverthem,sniffedandthen,asiftheywereofnoimportanceatall,turnedaway.Itsprangponderouslyintotheairand,withoneslowflapofitswings,begantoscullleisurelyawaydowntheplazaandupandintothemiststhatwererollingoverthecity.

           Vimeswascurrentlymoreconcernedwiththesmallerdragoninhishands.Itsstomachwasrumblingalarmingly.Hewishedhe’dpaidmoreattentiontothebookondragons.Wasastomachnoiselikethisasigntheywereabouttoexplode,orwasthepointyouhadtowatchoutforthepointwhentherumblingstopped?

           "We’vegottofollowit!"saidLadyRamkin.