Стража! Стража!

           Youtalktomeofneed?Isn’titthetraditionthatthefinestflowerofwomanhoodshouldbesenttothedragontoensurepeaceandprosperity?

           "But,yousee,wehavealwaysbeenmoderatelypeacefulandreasonablyprosperous-"

           DOYOUWANTTHISSTATEOFAFFAIRSTOCONTINUE?

           TheforceofthethoughtdroveWonsetohisknees.

           "Ofcourse,"hemanaged.

           Thedragonstretcheditsclawsluxuriantly.

           Thentheneedisnotmine,itisyours,itthought.

           Nowgetoutofmysight.

           Wonsesaggedasitlefthismind.

           Thedragonslitheredoverthecut-pricehoard,leaptupontotheledgeofoneofthehall’sbigwindows,andsmashedthestainedglasswithitshead.Themulticolouredimageofacityfathercascadedintotheotherdebrisbelow.

           Thelongneckstretchedoutintotheearlyeveningair,andturnedlikeaseekingneedle.Lightswerecomingonacrossthecity.Thesoundofamillionpeoplebeingalivemadeamuted,deepthrumming.

           Thedragonbreatheddeeply,joyfully.

           Thenithauledtherestofitsbodyontotheledge,shoulderedtheremainsofthewindow’sframeaside,andleaptintothesky.

           "Whatisit?"saidNobby.

           Itwasvaguelyround,ofawoodishtexture,andwhenstruckmadeanoiselikearulerpluckedovertheedgeofadesk.

           SergeantColontappeditagain.

           "Igivein,"hesaid.

           Carrotproudlylifteditoutofthebatteredpackaging.

           "It’sacake,"hesaid,shovingbothhandsunderthethingandraisingitwithsomedifficulty."Frommymother."Hemanagedtoputitonthetablewithouttrappinghisfingers.