Стража! Стража!

           Thegreatdragonwasfrozen,itsenormousbloodshoteyesconcentratingonthetinycreature.

           WithachallengingroarofflameandapummellingofairtheKingofAnkh-Morporkrose,allthoughtofmerehumansforgotten.

           VimesturnedsharplytoLadyRamkin.

           "Howdotheyfight?"hesaidurgently."Howdodragonsfight?"

           "I-thatis,well,theyjustflapateachotherandblowflame,"shesaid."Swampdragons,thatis.Imean,who’severseenanobledragonfight?"Shepattedhernightie."Imusttakesomenotes,I’vegotmymemobooksomewhere..."

           "Inyournightshirt?"

           "It’samazinghowideascometooneinbed,I’vealwayssaid."

           FlamesroaredintothespacewhereErrolhadbeen,buthewasn’tthere.Thekingtriedtospininmid-air.Thelittledragoncircledinaneasyseriesofsmokerings,weavingacat’scradleintheskywiththehugeadversarygyratinghelplesslyinthemiddle.Moreflames,hotterandlonger,stabbedathimandmissed.

           Thecrowdwatchedinbreathlesssilence.

           "’allo,Captain,"saidaningratiatingvoice.

           Vimeslookeddown.AsmallandstagnantponddisguisedasNobbygrinnedsheepishlyupathim.

           "Ithoughtyouweredead!"hesaid.

           "We’renot,"saidNobby.

           "Oh.Good."Theredidn’tseemmuchelsetosay.

           "Whatdoyoureckononthefight,then?"

           Vimeslookedbackup.Smoketrailsspiralledacrossthecity.

           "I’mafraidit’snotgoingtowork,"saidLadyRamkin."Oh.Hallo,Nobby."

           "Afternoon,ma’am,"saidNobby,touchingwhathethoughtwashisforelock.