Стража! Стража!

           Evenifithadbeenthelightestofsoufflestheywouldn’thavehadanyappetite.

           Theywerecontemplatinglifewithoutthecaptain.Itwasgoingtobebleak,evenwithoutdragons.SaywhatyoulikedaboutCaptainVimes,he’dhadstyle.Itwasacynical,black-nailedstyle,buthe’dhaditandtheydidn’t.Hecouldreadlongwordsandaddup.Eventhatwasstyle,ofasort.Heevengotdrunkinstyle.

           They’dbeentryingtodragtheminutesout,tryingtostretchoutthetime.Butthenighthadcome.

           Therewasnohopeforthem.

           Theyweregoingtohavetogooutonthestreets.

           Itwassixoftheclock.Andallwasn’twell.

           "ImissErrol,too,"saidCarrot

           "Hewasthecaptain’s,really,"saidNobby."Anyway,LadyRamkin’llknowhowtolookafterhim."

           "It’snotasthoughwecouldleaveanythingaround,either,"saidColon."Imean,eventhelampoil.Heevendrankthelampoil."

           "Andmothballs,"saidNobby."Awholeboxofmothballs.Whywouldanyonewanttoeatmothballs?Andthekettle.Andsugar.Hewasadevilforsugar."

           "Hewasnice,though,"saidCarrot."Friendly."

           "Oh,I’llgrantyou,"saidColon."Butit’snotright,really,apetwhereyouhavetojumpbehindatableeverytimeithiccups."

           "Ishallmisshislittleface,"saidCarrot.

           Nobbyblewhisnose,loudly.

           Itwasechoedbyahammeringonthedoor.Colonjerkedhishead.Carrotgotupandopenedit.

           Acoupleofmembersofthepalaceguardwerewaitingwitharrogantimpatience.