Стража! Стража!

           Colonstaredasthedragon’spointedtailpassedoverhead.

           "It...missed..."hemouthed.

           "Butitcouldn’tofmissed!"Hestaredred-eyedattheothertwo."Itwasasoddinglastdesperatemillion-to-onechance!"

           Thedragontwisteditswings,swungitshugebulkaroundonapivotofair,andboredownontheroof.

           CarrotgrabbedNobbyaroundthewaistandlaidahandonColon’sshoulder.

           Thesergeantwasweepingwithrageandfrustration.

           "Million-to-bloody-onelastdesperatebloodychance!"

           "Sarge-"

           Thedragonflamed.

           Itwasabeautifullycontrolledlineofplasma.Itwentthroughtherooflikebutter.

           Itcutthroughstairways.

           Itcrackledintoancienttimbersandmadethemtwistlikepaper.Itslicedintopipes.

           Itpunchedthroughfloorafterfloorlikethefistofanangrygodand,eventually,reachedthebigcoppervatcontainingathousandgallonsoffreshly-madematurewhisky-typespirit.

           Itburnedintothat,too.

           Fortunately,thechancesofanyonesurvivingtheensuingexplosionwereexactlyamillion-to-one.

           Thefireballroselikea-well,arose.Ahugeorangerose,streakedwithyellow.Ittooktheroofwithitandwrappeditaroundtheastonisheddragon,liftingithighintotheairinaboilingcloudofbrokentimberandbitsofpiping.

           ThecrowdwatchedinbemusementasthesuperhotblastflungitintotheskyandbarelynoticedVimesashepushedhisway,wheezingandcrying,throughthepressofbodies.

           Heshoulderedpastarowofpalaceguardsandshambledasfastashecouldacrosstheflagstones.