Стража! Стража!

           TheysteppedbackwhentheysawCarrot,whohadtobendabittoseeunderthelintel;badnewslikeCarrottravelsfast.

           "We’vebrungyouaproclamation,"saidoneofthem."You’vegotto-"

           "What’sallthatfreshpaintonyourbreastplate?"saidCarrotpolitely.Nobbyandthesergeantpeeredaroundhim.

           "It’sadragon,"saidtheyoungeroftheguards.

           "Thedragon,"correctedhissuperior.

           "’Ere,Iknowyou,"saidNobby.’You’reSkullyMaltoon.UsedtoliveinMincingStreet.Yourmummadecoughsweets,din’tshe,andfellinthemixtureanddied.IneverhaveacoughsweetbutIthinkofyourmum."

           "Hallo,Nobby,"saidtheguard,withoutenthusiasm.

           "Ibetyouroldmum’dbeproudofyou,youwithadragononyourvest,"saidNobbyconversationally.Theguardgavehimalookmadeofhatredandembarrassment.

           "Andnewplumesonyourhat,too,"Nobbyaddedsweetly.

           "Thishereisaproclamationwhatyouarecommandedtoread,"saidtheguardloudly."Andpostuponstreetcornersalso.Byorder."

           "Whose?"saidNobby.

           SergeantColongrabbedthescrollinoneham-likefist.

           "WhereAs,"hereadslowly,tracingtheletteringwithahesitantfinger,"IthathePleas-SedtheDer-Rer-Aa-Ger-thedragon,Ker-Ii-kingofkingsandAa-Ber-Ess-Uh-Ler-"sweatbeadedonthebroadpinkcliffofhisforehead-"absolute,thatis,Rer-Uh-Ler-Eh-Rer,rulerof-"

           Helapsedintothetorturedsilenceofacademia,hisfingertipjerkingslowlydowntheparchment.

           "No,"hesaidatlast.