Стража! Стража!

           Knowwhatwasformytealastnight?Beefdrippingsandwiches!"

           Thisdidnothavetheexpectedresponsefromthetwobachelors.

           "Cor!"saidNobby.

           "Realbeefdripping?"saidCarrot."Thekindwiththelittlecrunchybitsontop?Andshinyblobsoffat?"

           "Can’trememberwhenIlastaddressedthecrustonabowlofdripping,"musedNobby,inagastronomicheaven."Withjustabitofsaltandpepper,you’vegotamealfitforak-"

           "Don’tevensayit,"warnedColon.

           "Thebestbitiswhenyousticktheknifeinandcrackthefatandallthebrownygoldstuffbubblesup,"saidCarrotdreamily."Amomentlikethatisworthaki-"

           "Shutup!Shutup!"shoutedColon."You’rejust-whatthehellwasthat?"

           Theyfeltthesuddendowndraught,sawthemistabovethemrollintocoilsthatbrokeagainstthehousewalls.Ablastofcolderairsweptalongthestreet,andwasgone.

           "Itwaslikesomethingglidingpast,uptheresomewhere,"saidthesergeant.Hefroze."Here,youdon’tthink-?"

           "Wesawitkilled,didn’twe?"saidNobbyurgently.

           "Wesawitvanish,"saidCarrot.

           Theylookedatoneanother,aloneanddampinthemist-shroudedstreet.Therecouldbeanythingupthere.Theimaginationpeopledthedankairwithterribleapparitions.AndwhatwasworsewastheknowledgethatNaturemighthavedoneanevenbetterjob.

           "Nah,"saidColon."Itwasprobablyjustsome...somebigwadingbird.Orsomething."

           "Isn’tthereanythingweshoulddo?"saidCarrot.

           "Yes,"saidNobby.