Стража! Стража!

           It’snotthatI’mfrightenedofbeingupontheroofsbymyself,youunderstand.Thickuphere,isn’tit."

           "Yes,Sergeant."

           "Everythingallokay?"Nobby’smuffledvoicesidleditswaythroughthethickair,quicklyfollowedbyitsowner.

           "Yes,Corporal,"saidCarrot.

           "Whatyoudoinguphere?"Colondemanded.

           "IwasjustcominguptocheckLance-constableCarrotwasallright,"saidNobbyinnocently."Whatwereyoudoing,Sergeant?"

           "We’reallallright,"saidCarrot,beaming."That’sgood,isn’tit."

           ThetwoNCOsshifteduneasilyandavoidedlookingatoneanother.Itseemedlikealongwaybacktotheirposts,acrossthedamp,cloudyand,aboveall,exposedrooftops.

           Colonmadeanexecutivedecision.

           "Sodthis,"hesaid,andfoundapieceoffallenstatuarytositon.Nobbyleanedontheparapetandwinkledadampdog-endfromtheunspeakableashtraybehindhisear.

           "Heardtheprocessiongoby,"heobserved.Colonfilledhispipe,andstruckamatchonthestonebesidehim.

           "Ifthatdragon’salive,"hesaid,blowingoutaplumeofsmokeandturningasmallpatchoffogintosmog,"thenit’llhavegotthehellawayfromhere,I’mtellingyou.Nottherightsortofplacefordragons,acity,"headded,inthetonesofsomeonedoingagreatjobofconvincinghimself."It’llhavegoneofftosomewherewherethere’shighplacesandplentytoeat,youmarkmywords."

           "Somewherelikethecity,youmean?"saidCarrot.

           "Shutup,"saidtheothertwoinunison.