Стража! Стража!

           "Andkickoverthetable,andthat."

           "He’snotevenarmed!"shriekedWonse.

           "Worstkind,that,"saidoneoftheguards,withdeepstoicism."Theyleapup,see,andgraboneoftheornamentalswordsbehindtheshieldoverthefireplace."

           "Yeah,"saidanother,suspiciously."Andthentheychucksachairatyou."

           "There’snofireplace!There’snosword!There’sonlyhim!Nowtakehim!"screamedWonse.

           AcoupleofguardsgrabbedVimestentativelybytheshoulders.

           "You’renotgoingtodoanythingheroic,areyou?"whisperedoneofthem.

           "Wouldn’tknowwheretostart,"hesaid.

           "Oh.Right."

           AsVimeswashauledawayheheardWonsebreakingintoinsanelaughter.Theyalwaysdid,yourgloaters.

           Buthewascorrectaboutonething.Vimesdidn’thaveaplan.Hehadn’tthoughtmuchaboutwhatwasgoingtohappennext.He’dbeenafool,hetoldhimself,tothinkthatyoujusthadaconfrontationandthatwastheendofit.

           Healsowonderedwhattheothertaskwas.

           Thepalaceguardssaidnothing,butstaredstraightaheadandmarchedhimdown,acrosstheruinedhall,andthroughthewreckageofanothercorridortoanominousdoor.Theyopenedit,threwhimin,andmarchedaway.

           Andno-one,absolutelyno-one,noticedthethin,leaf-likethingthatfloatedgentlydownfromtheshadowsoftheroof,tumblingoverandoverintheairlikeasycamoreseed,beforelandinginthetangledgewgawsofthehoard.

           Itwasapeanutshell.

           ItwasthesilencethatawokeLadyRamkin.