Стража! Стража!

           "Howcanyouhelprats,sir?"hesaidweakly."Advice.Iadvisethem,youknow."ThePatricianleanedback."That’sthetroublewithpeoplelikeWonse,"hesaid."Theyneverknowwhentostop.Rats,snakesandscorpions.ItwassheerbedlaminherewhenIcame.Theratsweregettingtheworstofit,too."

           AndVimesthoughthewasbeginningtogetthedrift."Youmeanyousortoftrainedthem?"hesaid."Advised.Advised.Isupposeit’saknack,"saidLordVetinarimodestly.

           Vimeswonderedhowitwasdone.Didtheratssidewiththescorpionsagainstthesnakesandthen,whenthesnakeswerebeaten,invitethescorpionstoacelebratoryslap-upmealandeatthem?Orwereindividualscorpionshiredwithlargeamountsof,oh,whateverit-wasscorpionsate,tosidleuptoselectedleadingsnakesatnightandstingthem?

           Herememberedhearingonceaboutamanwho,lockedupinacellforyears,trainedlittlebirdsandcreatedasortoffreedom.Andhethoughtofancientsailors,shornoftheseabyoldageandinfirmity,whospenttheirdaysmakingbigshipsinlittlebottles.

           ThenhethoughtofthePatrician,robbedofhiscity,sittingcross-leggedonthegreyfloorinthedimdungeonandrecreatingitaroundhim,encouraginginminiatureallthelittlerivalries,powerstrugglesandfactions.Hethoughtofhimasasombre,broodingstatueamidpavingstonesalivewithslinkingshadowsandsudden,politicaldeath.IthadprobablybeeneasierthanrulingAnkh,whichhadlargerverminwhodidn’thavetousebothhandstocarryaknife.