Стража! Стража!

           ItmightnotbeagoodideatoletthemseethatthelasthalfofdeMalachite’sbookwasacharredlump.Themanwasclearlynotuptoit.

           Hecoulddoalotbetter.Andabsolutelyno-onewouldbeabletostophim.

           Thunderrolled...

           ...

           Itissaidthatthegodsplaygameswiththelivesofmen.Butwhatgames,andwhy,andtheidentitiesoftheactualpawns,andwhatthegameis,andwhattherulesare-whoknows?

           Bestnottospeculate.

           Thunderrolled....

           Itrolledasix.

           ...

           NowpullbackbrieflyfromthedrippingstreetsofAnkh-Morpork,panacrossthemorningmistsoftheDisc,andfocusinagainonayoungmanheadingforthecitywithalltheopenness,sincerityandinnocenceofpurposeofanicebergdriftingintoamajorshippinglane.

           TheyoungmaniscalledCarrot.Thisisnotbecauseofhishair,whichhisfatherhasalwaysclippedshortforreasonsofHygiene.Itisbecauseofhisshape.

           Itisthekindoftaperingshapeaboygetsthroughcleanliving,healthyeating,andgoodmountainairinhugelungfuls.Whenheflexeshisshouldermuscles,othermuscleshavetomoveoutofthewayfirst.