Стража! Стража!

           "That’snotright,isit?It’snotgoingtoeatsomeone?"

           "Consume,"saidtheolderguard.

           "It’sallpartofthesocial...socialcontract,"saidhisassistantwoodenly."Asmallpricetopay,I’msureyouwillagree,forthesafetyandprotectionofthecity."

           "Fromwhat?"saidNobby."We’veneverhadanenemywecouldn’tbribeorcorrupt."

           "Untilnow,"saidColondarkly.

           "Youcatchonfast,"saidtheguard."Soyou’regoingtobroadcastit.Onpainofpain."

           CarrotpeeredoverColon’sshoulder.

           "What’savirgin?"hesaid.

           "Anunmarriedgirl,"saidColonquickly.

           "What,likemyfriendReel?"saidCarrot,horrified.

           "Well,no,"saidColon.

           "She’snotmarried,youknow.NoneofMrsPalm’sgirlsaremarried."

           "Well,yes,"saidColon.

           "Well,then,"saidCarrot,withanairoffinality."We’renothavinganyofthatkindofthing,Ihope."

           "Peoplewon’tstandforit,"saidColon."Youmarkmywords."

           Theguardssteppedback,outofrangeofCarrot’srisingwrath.

           "Theycanpleasethemselves,"saidtheseniorguard."Butifyoudon’tproclaimit,youcantryexplainingthingstoHisMajesty."

           Theyhurriedoff.

           Nobbydartedoutintothestreet."Dragononyourvest!"heshouted."Ifyouroldmumknewaboutthisshe’dturninhervat,yougoin’aroundwithadragononyourvest!"

           Colonwanderedbacktothetableandspreadoutthescroll.

           "Badbusiness,"hemumbled.

           "It’salreadykilledpeople,"saidCarrot.