Стража! Стража!

           Theyhadthespeculativefacesofmenwhohadseenmanythings,andknewthatwhileyoucouldofcoursedependonheroes,andkings,andultimatelyongods,youcouldreallydependongravityanddeepwater.

           "Notthatwe’llneedit,"saidColonvirtuously.

           "Notwithyourluckyarrow,"saidNobby.

           ’"That’sright.But,justoutofinterest,howfardownisit,d’youthink?"saidColon.

           "Aboutthirtyfeet,I’dsay.Giveortake."

           "Thirtyfeet."Colonnoddedslowly."That’swhatI’dreckon.Andit’sdeep,isit?"

           "Verydeep,I’veheard."

           "I’lltakeyourwordforit.Itlooksprettymucky.I’dhatetohavetojumpinit."

           Carrotslappedhimcheerfullyontheback,nearlypushinghimover,andsaid,"What’sup,Sarge?Doyouwanttoliveforever?"

           "Dunno.Askmeagaininfivehundredyears."

           "It’sagoodjobwe’vegotyourluckyarrow,then!"saidCarrot.

           "Hmm?"saidColon,whoseemedtobeinamiserabledaydreamworldofhisown.

           "Imean,it’sagoodjobwe’vegotalastdesperatemillion-to-onechancetorelyon,orwe’dreallybeintrouble!""Oh,yes,"saidNobbysadly."Luckyoldus."

           ThePatricianlayback.Acoupleofratsdraggedacushionunderhishead.

           "Thingsareratherbadoutside,Igather,"hesaid.

           "Yes,"saidVimesbitterly."You’reright.You’rethesafestmaninthecity."

           Hewedgedanotherknifeinacrackinthestonesandtestedhisweightcarefully,whileLordVetinarilookedonwithinterest.