Стража! Стража!

           "Tellhimtocomebackanotherday,"saidWonse.

           "Goodofyoutoseeus,"saidVimes,appearinginthedoorway.

           Wonseglaredathim.

           "Sinceyou’rehere..."hesaid.VimesdroppedhishelmetonWonse’sdeskinwhatthesecretarythoughtwasanoffensivemanner,andsatdown.

           "Takeaseat,"saidWonse.

           "Haveyouhadbreakfastyet?"saidVimes.

           "Nowreally-"Wonsebegan.

           "Don’tworry,"saidVimescheerfully."ConstableCarrotwillgoandseewhat’shithekitchens.Thischapwillshowhimtheway."

           WhentheyhadgoneWonseleanedacrossthedriftsofpaperwork.

           "Therehadbetter,"hesaid,"beaverygoodreasonfor-"

           "Thedragonisback,"saidVimes.

           Wonsestaredathimforawhile.

           Vimesstaredback.

           Wonse’ssensescamebackfromwhatevercornersthey’dbouncedinto.

           "You’vebeendrinking,haven’tyou,"hesaid.

           "No.Thedragonisback."

           "Now,look-"Wonsebegan.

           "Isawit,"saidVimesflatly.

           "Adragon?You’resure?"

           Vimesleanedacrossthedesk."No!Icouldbebloodymistaken!"heshouted."Itmayhavebeensomethingelsewithsoddinggreatbigclaws,hugeleatherywingsandhot,fierybreath!Theremustbemassesofthingslikethat!"

           "Butweallsawitkilled!"saidWonse.

           "Idon’tknowwhatwesaw!"saidVimes,"ButIknowwhatIsaw!"

           Heleanedback,shaking.Hewassuddenlyfeelingextremelytired.

           "Anyway,"hesaid,inamorenormalvoice,"it’sflamedahouseinBitwashStreet.Justliketheotherones."