Стража! Стража!

           Alumpofrockricochetedoffhisbreastplate.

           "Whodidthat?"

           Thevoicelashedoutlikeawhip.

           Thecrowdwentquiet.

           SybilRamkinscrambleduponthewreckage,eyesafire,andglaredfuriouslyatthemob.

           "Isaid,"shesaid,"whodidthat?IfthepersonwhodiditdoesnotownupIshallbeextremelyangry!Shameonyouall!"

           Shehadtheirfullattention.Severalpeopleholdingstonesandthingsletthemdropquietlytotheground.

           ThebreezeflappedtheremnantsofhernightshirtasherLadyshiptookupanewharanguingposition.

           "HereisthegallantCaptainVimes-"

           "Ohgods,"saidVimesinasmallvoice,andpulledhishelmetdownoverhiseyes.

           "-andhisdauntlessmen,whohavetakenthetroubletocomeheretoday,tosaveyour-"

           VimesgrippedCarrot’sarmandmanoeuvredhimdownthefarsideoftheheap.

           "Youallright,Captain?"saidthelance-constable."You’vegoneallred."

           "Don’tyoustart,"snappedVimes."It’sbadenoughgettingallthoseleersfromNobbyandthesergeant."

           TohisastonishmentCarrotpattedhimcompanion-ablyontheshoulder.

           "Iknowhowitis,"hesaidsympathetically."Ihadthisgirlbackhome,hernamewasMinty,andherfather-"

           "Look,forthelasttime,thereisabsolutelynothingbetween-"Vimesbegan.

           Therewasarattlebesidethem.Asmallavalancheofplasterandthatchrolleddown.Therubbleheaved,andopenedoneeye.Onebigblackpupilfloatinginabloodshotglowtriedtofocusonthem.

           "Wemustbemad,"saidVimes.

           "Oh,no,sir,"saidCarrot.