Стража! Стража!

           Iwasneveranofficerofthecity,oranofficeroftheking,oranofficerofthePatrician.Iwasanofficerofthelaw.Itmighthavebeencorruptedandbent,butitwaslaw,ofasort.Thereisn’tanylawnowexcept:’you’llgetburnedaliveifyoudon’twatchout’.Where’stheplaceinthereforme?"

           Wonsedartedforwardandgrabbedhimbythearm.

           "Butyoucanhelpme!"hesaid."Theremaybeawaytodestroythedragon,d’yousee,oratleastwecanhelppeople,channelthingstomitigatetheworstofit,somehowfindameetingpoint-"

           Vimes’sblowcaughtWonseonthecheekandspunhimaround.

           "Thedragon’shere,"hesnapped."Youcan’tchannelitorpersuadeitornegotiatewithit.There’snotrucewithdragons.Youbroughtit.hereandwe’restuckwithit,youbastard."

           Wonseloweredhishandfromthebrightwhitemarkwherethepunchhadconnected.

           "Whatareyougoingtodo?"hesaid.

           Vimesdidn’tknow.He’dthoughtofadozenwaysthatthethingcouldgo,buttheonlyonethatwasreallysuitablewaskillingWonse.And,facetoface,hecouldn’tdoit.

           "That’sthetroublewithpeoplelikeyou,"saidWonse,gettingup."You’realwaysagainstanythingattemptedforthebettermentofmankind,butyouneverhaveanyproperplansofyourown.Guards!Guards!"

           HegrinnedmaniacallyatVimes.

           "Didn’texpectthat,didyou?"hesaid."We’vestillgotguardshere,youknow.Notsomany,ofcourse.Notmanypeoplewanttocomein."