Стража! Стража!

           Vimesshiftedinhisseat,awareofthesoundofhisownheartbeat,andglaredatthehazeovertheriver.

           ...andsawthewings.

           DearMotherandFather[wroteCarrot,inbetweenstaringdutifullyintothefog]Well,thetownisOnFateforthecoronation,whichismorecomplicatedthanathome,andnowIamonDaydutyaswell.Thisisashamebecause,IwasgoingtowatchtheCoronationwithReet,butitdoesnotdotocomplain.Imustgonowbecauseweareexpectingadragonanyminutealthoughitdoesnotexistreally.Yourlovingson,Carrot.PS.HaveyouseenanythingofMintylately?

           "Youidiot!"

           "Sorry,"saidVimes."Sorry."

           Peoplewereclimbingbackintotheirseats,manyofthemgivinghimfuriouslooks.Wonsewaswhitewithfury.

           "Howcouldyouhavebeensostupid?"heraged.

           Vimesstaredathisownfingers.

           "IthoughtIsaw-"hebegan.

           "Itwasaraven!Youknowwhatravensare?Theremustbehundredsoftheminthecity!"

           "Inthefog,yousee,thesizewasn’teasyto-"Vimesmumbled.

           "AndpoorMasterGreetling,yououghttohaveknownwhatloudnoisesdotohim!"TheheadoftheTeachers’Guildhadtobeledawaybysomekindpeople.

           "Shoutingoutlikethat!"Wonsewenton.

           "Look,IsaidI’msorry!Itwasanhonestmistake!"

           "I’vehadtoholduptheprocessionandeverything!"

           Vimessaidnothing.Hecouldfeelhundredsofamusedorunsympatheticeyesonhim.

           "Well,"hemuttered,"I’dbetterbegettingbacktotheYard-"

           Wonse’seyesnarrowed."No,"hesnapped.