Стража! Стража!

           "Comeon!"hesaid.

           "Whereto?"saidNobby.He’dpulledadampbuttfrombehindhisearandwaslookingatitwithanexpressionofdeepestsorrow.Itwasobviouslytoofargone.Hetriedtolightitanyway.

           "Wewanttofightthedragon,don’twe?"saidCarrot.

           Colonshifteduncomfortably."Yes,butaren’tweallowedtogohomeforachangeofclothesfirst?"

           "Andanicewarmdrink?"saidNobby.

           "Andameal,"saidColon."Aniceplateof-"

           "Youshouldbeashamedofyourselves,"saidCarrot."There’saladyindistressandadragontofightandallyoucanthinkofisfoodanddrink!"

           "Oh,I’mnotjustthinkingaboutfoodanddrink,"saidColon.

           "Wecouldbeallthatstandsbetweenthecityandtotaldestruction!"

           "Yes,but-"Nobbybegan.

           Carrotdrewhisswordandwaveditoverhishead.

           "CaptainVimeswouldhavegone!"hesaid."Allforone!"

           Heglaredatthem,andrushedoutoftheyard.

           ColongaveNobbyasheepishlook.

           "Youngpeopletoday,"hesaid.

           "Allforonewhat?"saidNobby.

           Thesergeantsighed."Comeon,then."

           "Oh,allright."

           Theystaggeredoutintothealley.Itwasempty.

           "Where’dhego?"saidNobby.

           Carrotsteppedoutoftheshadows,grinningalloverhisface.

           "KnewIcouldrelyonyou,"hesaid."Followme!"

           "Somethingoddaboutthatboy,"saidColon,astheylimpedafterhim."Healwaysmanagestopersuadeustofollowhim,haveyounoticed?"

           "Allforonewhat?"saidNobby.

           "Somethingaboutthevoice,Ireckon."