Стража! Стража!

           Vimes,hishandsoverhisownears,sawthecreatureflamedesperatelyasitturnedandbecamethecentreofaspiralofcrazyfire.

           Magiccrackledalongitswings.Itscreamedlikeadistressedfoghorn.Then,shakingitsheaddazedly,itbegantoglideinawidecircle.

           Vimesgroaned.Ithadsurvivedsomethingthattoremasonryapart.Whatdidyouhavetodotobeatit?Youcan’tfightit,hethought.Youcan’tburnit,youcan’tsmashit.There’snothingyoucandotoit.

           Thedragonlanded.Itwasn’taperfectlanding.Aperfectlandingwouldn’thavedemolishedarowofcottages.Itwasslow,anditseemedtogoonforalongtimeandripupaconsiderablestretchofcity.

           Wingsflappingaimlessly,neckwavingandsprayingrandomflame,itploughedonthroughadebrisofbeamsandthatch.Severalfiresstartedupalongthetrailofdestruction.

           Finallyitcametorestattheendofthefurrow,almostinvisibleunderaheapofformerarchitecture.

           Thesilencethatitleftwasbrokenonlybytheshoutsofsomeonetryingtoorganiseyetanotherbucketchainfromtherivertodousethefires.

           Thenpeoplestartedtomove.

           FromtheairAnkh-Morporkmusthavelookedlikeadisturbedanthill,withstreamsofdarkfiguresflowingtowardsthewreckofthedragon.

           Mostofthemhadsomekindofweapon.

           Manyofthemhadspears.

           Someofthemhadswords.

           Allofthemhadoneaiminmind.

           "Youknowwhat?"saidVimesaloud."Thisisgoingtobetheworld’sfirstdemocraticallykilleddragon.Oneman,onestab."

           "Thenyou’vegottostopthem.