Стража! Стража!

           Then,hummingamadlittletune,hesaunteredoutofthebuilding.

           Errolremainedquitestillforawhileandthen,withextremedifficulty,half-crawledandhalf-rolledoutofhisbox.Strangemessageswerecomingfromthemassivepartofhisbrainthatcontrolledhisdigestivesystem.Itwasdemandingcertainthingsthathecouldn’tputanameto.Fortunatelyitwasabletodescribetheminminutedetailtothecomplexreceptorsinhisenormousnostrils.Theyflared,subjectingtheairoftheroomtoanintimateexamination.Hisheadturned,triangulating.

           Hepulledhimselfacrossthefloorandbegantoeat,witheverysignofenjoyment,Carrot’stinofarmourpolish.

           PeoplestreamedpastVimesashestrolleduptheStreetofSmallGods.SmokeroseintotheairfromthePlazaofBrokenMoons.

           Thedragonsquattedinthemiddleofit,onwhatremainedofthecoronationdais.Ithadaself-satisfiedexpression.

           Therewasnosignofthethrone,orofitsoccupant,althoughitwaspossiblethatcomplicatedforensicexaminationofthesmallpileofcharcoalinthewreckedandsmoulderingwoodworkmightoffersomeclue.

           Vimescaughtholdofanornamentalfountaintosteadyhimselfasthecrowdsstampededby.Everystreetoutoftheplazawaspackedwithstrugglingbodies.Notnoisyones,Vimesnoticed.Peopleweren’twastingtheirbreathwithscreaminganymore.Therewasjustthissolid,deadlydeterminationtobesomewhereelse.

           Thedragonspreaditswingsandflappedthemluxuriously.