Стража! Стража!

           "OfcourseI’mshowingrespect!Nowgeton-"

           Therewasashout,offtotheright.Wonseglaredintothecrowd.

           "It’sthatRamkinwoman,"hesaid."What’ssheupto?"

           Peoplearoundherwerechatteringexcitedlynow.Fingerspointedallthesameway,likeasmallfallenforest.Therewereoneortwoscreams,andthenthecrowdmovedlikeatide.

           WonselookedalongthewideStreetofSmallGods.

           Itwasn’taravenoutthere.Notthistime.

           Thedragonflewslowly,onlyafewfeetabovetheground,wingsscullinggracefullythroughtheair.

           Theflagsthatcrisscrossedthestreetwerecaughtupandsnappedlikesomuchcobweb,pilinguponthecreature’sspineplatesandflappingbackalongthelengthofitstail.

           Itflewwithheadandneckfullyextended,asifthegreatbodywasbeingtowedlikeabarge.Thepeopleonthestreetyelledandfoughtoneanotherforthesafetyofdoorways.Itpaidthemnoattention.

           Itshouldhavecomeroaring,buttheonlysoundswerethecreakingofwingsandthesnappingofbanners.

           Itshouldhavecomeroaring.Notlikethis,notslowlyanddeliberately,givingterrortimetomature.Itshouldhavecomethreatening.Notpromising.

           Itshouldhavecomeroaring,notflyinggentlytotheaccompanimentofthezipandzingofmerrybunting.

           Vimespulledopentheotherdrawerofhisdeskandglaredatthepaperwork,suchastherewasofit.Therewasn’treallymuchintherethathecouldcallhisown.AscrapofsugarbagremindedhimthathenowowedtheTeaKittysixpence.Odd.Hewasn’tangryyet.