Стража! Стража!

           "It’smosturgent,"saidVimes,maintainingawoodenexpression.Hetriedtomoveforward.

           Thefirstguardsidesteppedneatlyandpushedhimsharplyinthechest.

           "No-oneisgoingnowhere,"hesaid."Ordersoftheking,see?Soyoucanpushoffbacktoyourpit,CaptainVimeswithaVee."

           Itwasn’tthewordswhichmadeupVimes’smind.Itwasthewaytheothermansniggered.

           "Standaside,"hesaid.

           Theguardleaneddown."Who’sgoingtomakeme,"herappedonVimes’shelmet,"copper?"

           Therearetimeswhenitisaveritablepleasuretodropthebombrightaway.

           "Lance-constableCarrot,Iwantyoutochargethesemen,"saidVimes.

           Carrotsaluted."Verygood,sir,"hesaid,andturnedandtrottedsmartlybackthewaytheyhadcome.

           "Hey!"shoutedVimes,astheboydisappearedaroundacorner.

           "That’swhatIliketosee,"saidthefirstguard,leaningonhisspeak."That’sayoungmanwithinitiative,thatyoungman.Abrightlad.Hedoesn’twanttostopalonghereandhavehisearstwistedoff.That’sayoungmanwho’sgoingtogoalongway,ifhe’sgotanysense."

           "Verysensible,"saidtheotherguard.

           Heleanedthespearagainstthewall.

           "YouWatchmenmakemewanttothrowup,"hesaidconversationally."Poncingaroundallthetime,neverdoingaproperjobofwork.Throwingyourweightaboutasifyoucountedforsomething.