Стража! Стража!

           WhyshouldIdoit?"

           "CaptainVimespaysusthirtydollarsamonth,"saidCarrot.

           "Yes,"saidNobby,grinning,"andyougetfivedollarsextraresponsibilityallowance."

           "ButCaptainVimeshasgone,"saidColonwretchedly.

           Carrotlookedathimsternly."Iamsure,"hesaid,"thatifhewerehere,he’dbethefirstto-"

           Colonwavedhimintosilence."That’sallverywell,"hesaid."ButwhatifImiss?"

           "Lookonthebrightside,"saidNobby."You’llprobablyneverknowit."

           SergeantColon’sexpressionmutatedintoanevil,desperategrin."We’llneverknowit,youmean,"hesaid.

           "What?"

           "IfyouthinkI’mstandingonsomerooftoponmytod,youcanthinkagain.Iorderyoutoaccompanyme.Anyway,"headded,"yougetonedollarresponsibilityallowance,too."

           Nobby’sfacetwistedinpanic."NoIdon’t!"hecroaked."CaptainVimessaidhewasdockingitforfiveyearsforbeingadisgracetothespecies!"

           "Well,youmightjustgetitback.Anyway,youknowallaboutvoonerables.I’vewatchedyoufight."

           Carrotsalutedsmartly."Permissiontovolunteer,sir,"hesaid."AndIonlygettwentydollarsamonthtrainingpayandIdon’tmindatall,sir."

           SergeantColonclearedhisthroat.Thenhestraightenedthehangofhisbreastplate.Itwasoneofthosewithastonishinglyimpressivepectoralmusclesembosseduponit.Hischestandstomachfittedintoitinthesamewaythatjellyfitsintoamould.

           WhatwouldCaptainVimesdonow?Well,he’dhaveadrink.