Стража! Стража!

           LadyRamkinturnedinastonishment.Vimeshadstartedtolaugh.

           Therewasamanicedgetoitandthereweretearsinhiseyes,butitwasstilllaughter.Helaughedandlaugheduntilheslidgentlydowntheedgeofthefountain,hislegssplayingoutinfrontofhim.

           "Hooray,hooray,hooray!"hegiggled,almostchoking.

           "Whatonearthd’youmean?"LadyRamkindemanded.

           "Putoutmoreflags!Blowthecymbals,roastthetocsin!We’vecrownedit!We’vegotakingafterall!Whatho!"

           "Haveyoubeendrinking?"shesnapped.

           "Notyet!"sniggeredVimes."Notyet!ButIwillbe!"

           Helaughedon,knowingthatwhenhestoppedblackdepressionwasgoingtodroponhimlikealeadsouffle.Buthecouldseethefuturestretchingoutaheadofthem...

           ...afterall,itwasdefinitelynoble.Anditdidn’tcarrymoney,anditcouldn’tanswerback.Itcouldcertainlydosomethingfortheinnercities,too.Liketorchingthemtothebedrock.

           We’llreallydoit,hethought.That’stheAnkh-Morporkway.Ifyoucan’tbeatitorcorruptit,youpretenditwasyourideainthefirstplace.

           VivatDraco.

           Hebecameawarethatthesmallchildhadwanderedupagain.Itwaveditsflaggentlyathimandsaid,"CanIshouthurrahagainnow?"

           "Whynot?"saidVimes."Everyoneelsewill."

           Fromthepalacecamethemuffledsoundsofcomplicateddestruction...

           Errolpulledabroomstickacrossthefloorwithhismouthand,whimperingwitheffort,hauleditupright.