Стража! Стража!

           Theguardwiththebowleanedsideways,rightedhimself,andfoundthatapurplefingernailwasgentlyblockingthefiringmechanism.Helookedaround.TheLibrarianhithimrightontopofhishelmet.

           Theotherguardshrankback,wavinghishandsfrantically.

           "Nonono!"hesaid."It’samisunderstanding!Whatwasityousaidyoudidn’twanttohavetodo?Nicemonkey!"

           "Oh,dear,"saidVimes."Wrong!"

           Heignoredtheterrifiedscreamingandrummagedthroughthedebrisofthekitchenuntilhecameupwithacleaver.He’dneverfeltreallyathomewithswords,butacleaverwasadifferentmatter.Acleaverhadweight.Ithadpurpose.Aswordmighthaveacertainnobilityaboutit,unlessitwastheonebelongingforexampletoNobby,whichreliedonrusttoholdittogether,butwhatacleaverhadwasatremendousabilitytocutthingsup.

           Heleftthebiologylesson-thatnomonkeywascapableofbouncingsomeoneupanddownbytheirankles-foundalikelydoor,andhurriedthroughit.Thistookhimoutsideagain,intothebigcobbledareathatsurroundedthepalace.Nowhecouldgethisbearings,nowhecould...

           Therewasaboomintheairabovehim.Agaleblewdownwards,knockinghimover.

           TheKingofAnkh-Morpork,wingsoutspread,glidedacrosstheskyandsettledforamomentonthepalacegateway,talonsgouginglongscarsinthestoneasitcaughtitsbalance.Thesunglitteredoffitsarchedbackasitstretcheditsneck,roaredalazybillowofflames,andsprangintotheairagain.