Стража! Стража!

           Lookatitthisway:ifyousaytopeople,what’sittobe,eitheryourhouseburneddownaroundyouorsomegirlyou’veprobablynevermetbeingeaten,well,theymightgetabitthoughtful.Humannature,see."

           "I’msureaherowillturnupintime,"saidCarrot."Withsomenewsortofweapon,orsomething.Andstrikeatitsvoonerablespot."

           Therewasthesilenceofsuddenintenselistening.

           "What’soneofthem?"saidNobby.

           "Aspot.Whereit’svoonerable.Mygrandadusedtotellmestories.Hitadragoninitsvoonerables,hesaid,andyou’vekilledit."

           "Likekickingitinthewossnames?"saidNobby,interestedly.

           "Dunno.Isupposeso.Although,Nobby,I’vetoldyoubeforeitisnotrightto-"

           "Andwhere’sthespot,like?"

           "Oh,adifferentplaceoneachdragon.Youwaittillitfliesoverandthenyousay,there’sthevoonerablespot,andthenyoukillit,"saidCarrot."Somethinglikethat."

           SergeantColonstaredblanklyintospace.

           "Hmm,"saidNobby.

           Theywatchedthepanoramaofpanicforawhile.ThenSergeantColonsaid,"Yousureaboutthevoonerables?"

           "Yes.Oh,yes."

           "Iwishyouhadn’tbeen,lad."

           Theylookedattheterrifiedcityagain.

           "Youknow,"saidNobby,"youalwaystoldmeyouusedtowinprizesforarcheryinthearmy,Sergeant.Yousaidyouhadaluckyarrow,youalwaysmadesureyougotyourluckyarrowback,yousaidyou-"

           "Allright!Allright!Butthisisn’tthesamething,isit?Anyway,I’mnotahero.