Стража! Стража!

           Hetappedthesideofhishelmetmeaningfully."That’s’coswe’reintelligent."

           Vimeslandedindampstrawandalsoinpitchdarkness,althoughafterawhilehiseyesbecameaccustomedtothegloomandhecouldmakeoutthewallsofthedungeon.

           Ithadn’tbeenbuiltforgraciousliving.Itwasbasicallyjustaspacecontainingallthepillarsandarchesthatsupportedthepalace.Atthefarendasmallgrillehighonthewallletinameresuspicionofgrubby,second-handlight.

           Therewasanothersquareholeinthefloor.Itwasalsobarred.Thebarswerequiterusty,though.ItoccurredtoVimesthathecouldprobablyworkthemlooseeventually,andthenallhewouldhavetodowasslimdownenoughtogothroughanine-inchhole.

           Whatthedungeondidnotcontainwasanyrats,scorpions,cockroachesorsnakes.Ithadoncecontainedsnakes,itwastrue,becauseVimes’ssandalscrunchedonsmall,longwhiteskeletons.

           Hecreptcautiouslyalongonedampwall,wonderingwheretherhythmicscrapingsoundwascomingfrom.Heroundedasquatpillar,andfoundout.

           ThePatricianwasshaving,squintingintoascrapofmirrorproppedagainstthepillartocatchthelight.No,Vimesrealised,notpropped.Supported,infact.Byarat.Itwasalargerat,withredeyes.

           ThePatriciannoddedtohimwithoutapparentsurprise.

           "Oh,"hesaid."Vimes,isn’tit?Iheardyouwereonthewaydown.Jollygood.Youhadbettertellthekitchenstaff-"andhereVimesrealisedthatthemanwasspeakingtotherat-"thattherewillbetwoforlunch.