Стража! Стража!

           "Weshouldgoawayquickly.RememberGaskin."

           "Maybeit’sanotherdragon,"saidCarrot."Weshouldwarnpeopleand-"

           "No,"saidSergeantColonvehemently,"because,Ae,theywouldn’tbelieveusand,Bee,we’vegotakingnow.’Shisjob,dragons."

           "S’right,"saidNobby."He’dprobablybereallyangry.Dragonsareprobably,youknow,royalanimals.Likedeer.Amancouldprobablyhavehistridlinspluckedjustforthinkingaboutkillingone,whenthere’sakingaround."

           "Makesyougladyou’recommon,"saidColon.

           "Commoner,"correctedNobby.

           "That’snotaverycivicattitude-"Carrotbegan.HewasinterruptedbyErrol.

           Thelittledragoncametrottingupthemiddleofthestreet,stumpytailhigh,hiseyesfixedonthecloudsabovehim.Hewentrightbytherankwithoutgivingthemanyattentionatall.

           "What’supwithhim?"saidNobby.

           AclatterbehindthemintroducedtheRamkincoach.

           "Men?"saidVimeshesitantly,peeringthroughthefog.

           "Definitely,"saidSergeantColon.

           "Didyouseeadragongopast?ApartfromErrol?"

           "Well,er,"saidthesergeant,lookingattheothertwo."Sortof,sir.Possibly.Itmightofbeen."

           "Thendon’tstandtherelikealotofboobies,"saidLadyRamkin."Getin!Plentyofroominside!"

           Therewas.Whenitwasbuilt,thecoachhadprobablybeenthemarveloftheday,allplushandgiltandtasselledhangings.