Стража! Стража!

           Heisalsobearingaswordpresentedtohiminmysteriouscircumstances.Verymysteriouscircumstances.Surprisingly,therefore,thereissomethingveryunexpectedaboutthissword.Itisn’tmagical.Ithasn’tgotaname.Whenyouwieldityoudon’tgetafeelingofpower,youjustgetblisters;youcouldbelieveitwasaswordthathadbeenusedsomuchthatithadceasedtobeanythingotherthanaquintessentialsword,alongpieceofmetalwithverysharpedges.Andithasn’tgotdestinywrittenalloverit.It’spracticallyunique,infact.

           ...

           Thunderrolled.

           Theguttersofthecitygurgledsoftlyasthedetritusofthenightwascarriedalong,insomecasesprotestingfeebly.

           WhenitcametotherecumbentfigureofCaptainVimes,thewaterdivertedandflowedaroundhimintwostreams.Vimesopenedhiseyes.Therewasamomentofemptypeacebeforememoryhithimlikeashovel.

           IthadbeenabaddayfortheWatch.TherehadbeenthefuneralofHerbertGaskin,foronething.PooroldGaskin.Hehadbrokenoneofthefundamentalrulesofbeingaguard.Itwasn’tthesortofrulethatsomeonelikeGaskincouldbreaktwice.Andsohe’dbeenloweredintothesoddengroundwiththeraindrummingonhiscoffinandno-onepresenttomournhimbutthethreesurvivingmembersoftheNightWatch,themostdespisedgroupofmenintheentirecity.SergeantColonhadbeenintears.PooroldGaskin.

           PooroldVimes,Vimesthought.