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           Ireckonthechancesofamanwithsootonhisface,histonguestickingout,standingononelegandsingingTheHedgehogSongeverhittingadragon’svoonerableswouldbe...what’dyousay,Carrot?"

           "Amilliontoone,Ireckon,"saidCarrotvirtuously.

           Colonglaredatthem.

           "Listen,lads,"hesaid,"you’renotwindingmeup,areyou?"

           Carrotlookeddownattheplazabelowthem.

           "Oh,bloodyhell,"hesaidsoftly.

           "Wassat?"saidColonurgently,lookingaround.

           "They’rechainingawomantoarock!"

           Therankstaredovertheparapet.Thehugeandsilentcrowdthatlinedtheplazastaredtoo,atawhitefigurestrugglingbetweenhalfadozenpalaceguards.

           "Wonderwheretheygottherockfrom?"saidColon."We’reonloamhere,youknow."

           "Finestrappingwench,whoeversheis,"saidNobbyapprovingly,asoneoftheguardswheeledoffbow-leggedandcollapsed."That’soneladwhowon’tknowwhattodowithhisevenin’sforafewweeks.Gotameanrightknee,soshehas."

           "Anyoneweknow?"saidColon.

           Carrotsquinted.

           "It’sLadyRamkin!"hesaid,hismouthdroppingopen.

           "Never!"

           "He’sright.Inanightie,"saidNobby.

           "Thebuggers!"Colonsnatcheduphisbowandfumbledforanarrow."I’llgive’emvoonerables!Well-spokenladylikeher,it’sadisgrace!"

           "Er,"saidCarrot,whohadglancedoverhisshoulder."Sergeant?"

           "Thisiswhatitcomesto!"mutteredColon."Decentwomencan’twalkdownthestreetwithoutbeingeaten!Right,youbastards,you’re...