Стража! Стража!

           Vimesmadeananimal-amammaliananimal-noiseinthebackofhisthroat,andranoutintotheemptystreets.

           SilencefilledtheancestralhomeoftheRamkins.Thefrontdoorswungbackandforthonitshinges,lettinginthecommon,badly-broughtupbreezewhichwanderedthroughthedesertedrooms,gawpingandlookingfordustonthetopofthefurniture.ItwoundupthestairsandbangedthroughthedoorofSybilRamkin’sbedroom,rattlingthebottlesonthedressingtableandrifflingthroughthepagesofDiseasesoftheDragon.

           AreallyfastreadercouldhavelearnedthesymptomsofeverythingfromAbatedHeelstoZigzagThroat.

           Anddownbelow,inthelow,warmandfoul-smellingshedthathousedtheswampdragons,itseemedthatErrolhadgotthemall.Nowhesatinthecentreofhispen,swayingandmoaningsoftly.Whitesmokerolledslowlyfromhisearsanddriftedtowardsthefloor.Fromsomewhereinsidehisswollenstomachcamecomplexexplosivehydraulicnoises,asthoughdesperateteamsofgnomesweretryingtodriveaculvertthroughacliffinathunderstorm.

           Hisnostrilsflared,turningmoreorlessoftheirownvolition.

           Theotherdragonscranedoverthepenwalls,watchinghimcautiously.

           Therewasanotherdistantgastricroar.Errolshiftedpainfully.

           Thedragonsexchangedglances.Then,onebyone,theylaydowncarefullyonthefloorandputtheirpawsovertheireyes.

           Nobbyputhisheadononeside."Itlookspromising,"hesaidcritically."Wemightbenearlythere.