Стража! Стража!

           Thiswaslikehearingavoiceinyourbody.Hiswholenervoussystemtwangedtoit,likeabow.

           Rise.

           Wonsejerkedtohisfeet,overturningthechairandbanginghislegsonthetable.Whenthatvoicespoke,hehadasmuchcontroloverhisbodyaswaterhadovergravity.

           Come.

           Wonselurchedacrossthefloor.

           Thewingsunfoldedslowly,withtheoccasionalcreak,untiltheyfilledthehallfromsidetoside.Thetipofonesmashedawindow,andstuckoutintotheafternoonair.

           Thedragonslowly,sensuously,stretchedoutitsneckandyawned.Whenithadfinished,itbroughtitsheadarounduntilitwasafewinchesinfrontofWonse’sface.

           Whatdoesvoluntarymean?

           "It,er,itmeansdoingsomethingofyourownfreewill,"saidWonse.

           Buttheyhavenofreewill!Theywillincreasemyhoard,orIwillflamethem!

           Wonsegulped."Yes,"hesaid,"butyoumustn’t-"

           Thesilentroaroffuryspunhimaround.

           ThereisnothingImustn’t!

           "No,no,no!"squeakedWonse,clutchinghishead."Ididn’tmeanthat!Believeme!Thiswayisbetter,that’sall!Betterandsafer!"

           Nonecandefeatme!

           "Thisiscertainlythecase-"

           Nonecancontrolme!

           Wonseflunguphisfinger-spreadhandsinaconciliatoryfashion."Ofcourse,ofcourse,"hesaid."Buttherearewaysandways,youknow.Waysandways.Alltheroaringandflaming,yousee,youdon’tneedit..."

           Foolishape!HowelsecanImakethemdomybidding?

           Wonseputhishandsbehindhisback.

           "They’lldoitoftheirownfreewill,"hesaid.