Стража! Стража!

           SergeantColontookadeepbreath.

           "Butitmightjustwork,"hesaid.

           "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"snappedVimes."There’sno-"

           Nobbynudgedhimurgentlyintheribsandpointedoutacrosstheplains.

           Therewasacolumnofblacksmokeoutthere.Vimessquinted.Runningaheadofthesmoke,speedingoverthecabbagefieldsandclosingfast,wasasilverybullet.

           Thegreatdragonhadseenittoo.Itflameddefianceandclimbedforextraheight,mashingtheairwithitsenormouswings.

           NowErrol’sflamewasvisible,sohotastobealmostblue.Thelandscaperolledawayunderneathhimatanimpossiblespeed,andhewasaccelerating.

           Aheadofhimthekingextendeditsclaws.Itwasalmostgrinning.

           Errol’sgoingtohitit,Vimesthought.Godshelpusall,it’llbeafireball.

           Somethingoddwashappeningoutinthefields.AlittlewaybehindErrolthegroundappearedtobeploughingitselfup,throwingcabbagestalksintotheair.Ahedgeroweruptedinashowerofsawdust...

           Errolpassedsilentlyoverthecitywalls,noseup,wingsfoldeddowntotinyflaps,hisbodyhonedtoamereconewithaflameatoneend.Hisopponentblewoutatongueoffire;VimeswatchedErrol,withabarelynoticeableflipofawingstub,rolleasilyoutofitspath.Andthenhewasgone,speedingouttowardstheseainthesameeeriesilence.

           "Hemiss-"Nobbybegan.

           Theairruptured.Anendlessthunderclapofnoisedraggedacrossthecity,smashingtiles,topplingchimneys.Inmid-air,thekingwaspickedup,flattenedoutandspunlikeatopinthesonicwash.