Стража! Стража!

           Thepeopleattherearofthecrowdtookthisasasignaltoclimbupthebacksofthepeopleinfrontofthemandrunforsafetyfromheadtohead.

           Withinafewsecondsthesquarewasemptyofallsavethestupidandtheterminallybewildered.Eventhebadlytrampledweremakingaspiritedcrawlforthenearestexit.

           Vimeslookedaroundhim.Thereseemedtobealotoffallenflags,someofwhichwerebeingeatenbyanelderlygoatwhichcouldn’tbelieveitsluck.HecoulddistantlyseeCut-me-own-Throatonhishandsandknees,tryingtorestorethecontentsofhistray.

           ByVimes’ssideasmallchildwavedaflaghesitantlyandshouted"Hurrah".

           Theneverythingwentquiet.

           Vimesbentdown.

           "Ithinkyoushouldbegoinghome,"hesaid.

           Thechildsquintedupathim.

           "AreyouaWatchman?"itsaid.

           "No,"saidVimes."Andyes."

           "Whathappenedtotheking,Watchman?"

           "Er.Ithinkhe’sgoneoffforarest,"saidVimes.

           "MyauntiesaidIshouldn’ttalktoWatchmen,"saidthechild.

           "Doyouthinkitmightbeagoodideatogohomeandtellherhowobedientyou’vebeen,then?"saidVimes.

           "Myauntiesaid,ifIwasnaughty,she’dputmeontheroofandcallthedragon,"saidthechild,conversationally."Myauntiesaiditeatsyouallupstartingwiththelegs,so’syoucanseewhat’shappening."

           "Whydon’tyougohomeandtellyourauntieshe’sactinginthebesttraditionsofAnkh-Morporkchild-rearing?"saidVimes."Goon.Runalong."

           "Itcrunchesupallyourbones,"saidthechildhappily.