Стража! Стража!

           Vimessquintedsidewaysathim.

           Hegaveashort,mirthlesslaugh.

           "Yeah,that’sright,"heconceded."Ourdragon-killingking.Welldonethatman."Hesighed."They’renotgoingtolikethis."

           Theydidn’t.Noneofthemdid.

           Thefirstproblemwasthepalaceguard.

           Vimeshadneverlikedthem.They’dneverlikedhim.Okay,somaybetherankwereonlyonestepawayfrompettyscofflaws,butinVimes’sprofessionalopinionthepalaceguardthesedayswereonlyonestepawayfrombeingtheworstcriminalscumthecityhadeverproduced.Astepfurtherdown.They’dhavetoreformabitbeforetheycouldevenbeconsideredforinclusionintheTenMostUnwantedlist.

           Theywererough.Theyweretough.Theyweren’tthesweepingsofthegutter,theywerewhatyoustillfoundstickingtothegutterwhentheguttersweepershadgivenupinexhaustion.Theyhadbeenextremelywell-paidbythePatrician,andpresumablywereextremelywell-paidbysomeoneelsenow,becausewhenVimeswalkeduptothegatesacoupleofthemstoppedloungingagainstthewallsandstraightenedupwhilestillmaintainingjusttherightamountofpsychologicalslouchtocausemaximumoffense.

           "CaptainVimes,"saidVimes,staringstraightahead."Toseetheking.It’softheutmostimportance."

           "Yeah?Well,it’dhavetobe,"saidaguard."CaptainSlimes,wasit?"

           "Vimes,"saidVimesevenly."WithaVee."

           Oneoftheguardsnoddedtohiscompanion.

           "Vimes,"hesaid."WithaVee."

           "Fancy,"saidtheotherguard.