Стража! Стража!

           Suchas,whathappensevenifwebeatthedragon?"

           "Oh,comeon!"saidSergeantColon.

           "No,seriously.What’sthealternative?"

           "Ahumanbeing,forastart!"

           "Pleaseyourself,"saidthelittlemanprimly."ButIreckononepersonamonthisprettygoodcomparedtosomerulerswe’vehad.AnyonerememberNershtheLunatic?OrGigglingLordSminceandhisLaugh-A-MinuteDungeon?"

           Therewasacertainamountofmumblingofthe"he’sgotapoint"variety.

           "Buttheygotoverthrown!"saidColon.

           "Notheydidn’t.Theywereassassinated."

           "Samething,"saidColon."Imean,no-one’sgoingtoassassinatethedragon.It’dtakemorethanadarknightandasharpknifetoseeitoff,Iknowthat."

           Icanseewhatthecaptainmeans,hethought.Nowonderhealwayshasadrinkafterhethinksaboutthings.Wealwaysbeatourselvesbeforeweevenstart.GiveanyAnkh-Morporkmanabigstickandhe’llendupclubbinghimselftodeath.

           "Lookhere,youmealy-mouthedlittletwerp,"saidthefirstspeaker,pickingupthelittleonebyhiscollarandcurlinghisfreehandintoafist,"Ihappentohavethreedaughters,andIhappentonotwantanyofthemet,thankyouverymuch."

           "Yes,andthepeopleunited...will...never...be..."

           Colon’svoicefaltered.Herealisedthattherestofthecrowdwereallstaringupward.

           Thebugger,hethought,asrationalitybegantodrainaway.Itmusthaveflannelfeet.