Стража! Стража!

           InthisdungeonthePatriciancouldholdofftheworld.

           Allthatwasontheoutsidewasthelock.

           Alltheboltsandbarswereontheinside.

           Therankclamberedawkwardlyacrossthedamprooftopsasthemorningmistwasboiledoffbythesun.Notthattherewouldbeanyclearairtoday-stickyswathesofsmokeandstalesteamwreathedthecityandfilledtheairwiththesadsmellofdampenedcinders.

           "Whatisthisplace?"saidCarrot,helpingtheothersalongagreasywalkway.

           SergeantColonlookedaroundattheforestofchimneys.

           "We’rejustaboveJimkinBearhugger’swhiskydistillery,"hesaid."Onadirectline,see,betweenthepalaceandtheplaza.It’sboundtoflyoverhere."

           Nobbylookedwistfullyoverthesideofthebuilding.

           "Ibininthereonce,"hesaid."Checkedthedooronedarknightanditjustcameopeninmyhand."

           "Eventually,Iexpect,"saidColonsourly.

           "Well,Ihadtogoin,din’tI,tochecktherewasnomiscreantinggoingon.Amazingplaceinthere.Allpipesandstuff.Andthesmell!"

           "’Everybottlematuredforuptosevenminutes’,"quotedColon."’Ha’adropaforeyego’,itsaysonthelabel.Damnright,too.Ihadadroponce,andIwentallday."

           Hekneltdownandunwrappedthelongsackingpackagehehadbeenmanhandling,withextremedifficulty,duringtheclimb.Thisrevealedalongbowofancientdesignandaquiverofarrows.

           Hepickedupthebowslowly,reverentially,andranhispudgyfingersalongit.