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           "Andicytarnsinhiddenvalleysandthat.Nottomentionsubterraneanlakes.He’dbeboundtohavelearned.Inandoutofthewaterallday,Iexpect."

           Theystaredatthegreasygreysurface.

           "ItwasprobablythatProtective,"saidNobby."P’rapsitfilledwithwateranddraggedhimdown."

           Colonnoddedgloomily.

           "I’llholdyourhelmet,"saidNobby,afterawhile.

           "ButI’myoursuperiorofficer!"

           "Yes,"saidNobbyreasonably,"butifyougetstuckdownthere,you’regoingtowantyourbestmanuphere,readytorescueyou,aren’tyou?"

           "That’s...reasonable,"saidColoneventually."That’sagoodpoint."

           "Right,then."

           "Drawbackis,though..."

           "What?"

           "...1can’tswim,"Colonsaid.

           "Howdidyougetoutofthat,then?"

           Colonshrugged."I’manaturalfloater."

           Theireyes,onceagain,turnedtothedanknessofthepond.ThenColonstaredatNobby.ThenNobby,veryslowly,unbuckledhishelmet.

           "Thereisn’tsomeonestillinthere,isthere?"saidCarrot,behindthem.

           Theylookedaround.Hehoickedsomemudoutofanear.Behindhimtheremainsofthebrewerysmouldered.

           "IthoughtI’dbetternipoutquickly,seewhatwasgoingon,"hesaidbrightly,pointingtoagateleadingoutoftheyard.Itwashangingbyonehinge.

           "Oh,"saidNobbyweakly."Jollygood."

           "There’sanalleyoutthere,"saidCarrot.

           "Nodragonsinit,arethere?"saidColonsuspiciously.

           "Nodragons,nohumans.There’sno-onearound,"saidCarrotimpatiently.Hedrewhissword.