Стража! Стража!

           "IthinkifIeverrewriteDiseasesyou’llgetawholechapteralltoyourself,"shesaidquietly,andunboltedthegateofthepen."Let’sseeifthatnastytemperaturehasgonedown,shallwe?"

           Shereachedouttostrokehisskinandgasped.Shepulledthehandbackhurriedlyandwatchedtheblistersformonherfingertips.

           Errolwassocoldheburned.

           Asshestaredathimthesmallroundmarksthatherwarmthhadmeltedfilmedoverwithfrozenair.

           LadyRamkinsatbackonherhaunches.

           "Justwhatkindofdragonareyou-?"shebegan.

           Therewasthedistantsoundofaknockatthefrontdoorofthehouse.Shehesitatedforamoment,thenblewoutthelamp,creptheavilyalongthelengthofthekennelsandpulledasidethescrapofsackingoverthewindow.

           Thefirstlightofdawnshowedherthesilhouetteofaguardsmanonherdoorstep,theplumesofhishelmetblowinginthebreeze.

           Shebitherlipinpanic,scuttledbacktothedoor,fledacrossthelawnanddivedintothehouse,takingthestairsthreeatatime.

           "Stupid,stupid,"shemuttered,realisingthelampwasbackdownstairs.Butnotimeforthat.Bythetimeshewentandgotit,Vimesmighthavegoneaway.

           Workingbyfeelandmemoryinthegloomshefoundherbestwigandrammeditonherhead.Somewhereamongtheointmentsanddragonremediesonherdressingtablewassomethingcalled,asfarasshecouldremember,DewoftheNightorsomesuchunsuitablename,apresentlongagofromathoughtlessnephew.