Стража! Стража!

           Youcan’tletthemkillit!"saidLadyRamkin.

           Vimesblinkedather.

           "Pardon?"hesaid.

           "It’swounded!"

           "Lady,thatwastheintention,wasn’tit?Anyway,it’sonlystunned,"saidVimes.

           "Imeanyoucan’tletthemkillitlikethis,"saidLadyRamkininsistently."Poorthing!"

           "Whatdoyouwanttodo,then?"demandedVimes,histemperunravelling."Giveitastrengtheningdoseoftaroilandanicecomfybasketinfrontofthestove?"

           "It’sbutchery!"

           "Suitsmefine!"

           "Butit’sadragon!It’sjustdoingwhatadragondoes!Itneverwouldhavecomehereifpeoplehadleftitalone!"

           Vimesthought:itwasabouttoeather,andshecanstillthinklikethis.Hehesitated.Perhapsthatdidgiveyoutherighttoanopinion...

           SergeantColonsidledupastheyglared,white-faced,atoneanother,andhoppeddesperatelyfromonesquelchingfoottotheother.

           "Youbettercomeatonce,Captain,"hesaid."It’sgoingtobebloodymurder!"

           Vimeswavedahandathim."AsfarasI’mconcerned,"hemumbled,avoidingSybilRamkin’sglare,"it’sgotitcomingtoit."

           "It’snotthat,"saidColon."It’sCarrot.He’sarrestedthedragon."

           Vimespaused.

           "Whatdoyoumean,arrested?"hesaid."Youdon’tmeanwhatIthinkyoumean,doyou?"

           "Couldbesir,"saidColonuncertainly."Couldbe.Hewasupontherubblelikeashot,sir,grabbeditbyawingandsaid’You’renicked,chummy’,sir.Couldn’tbelieveit,sir.Sir,thethingis..."