Стража! Стража!

           "Afinefigureofadragon,Imean,"hesaidquickly.

           "Er.Wide,egg-bearinghips,"saidSergeantColonanxiously.

           "Statueskew,"Nobbyaddedfervently.

           "Shutup,"saidVimes.Hebrushedthedustofftheremainsofhisuniform,adjustedthehangofhisbreastplate,andsethishelmetonsquarely.Hepatteditfirmly.Thiswasn’twhereitended,heknewthat.Thiswaswhereitallgotstarted.

           "Youmencomewithme.Comeon,hurry!Whileeveryone’sstillwatchingthem,"headded.

           "Butwhatabouttheking?"saidCarrot."Orqueen?Orwhateveritisnow?"

           Vimesstaredattherapidlyshrinkingshapes."Ireallydon’tknow,"hesaid."That’suptoErrol,Isuppose.We’vegototherthingstodo.".Colonsaluted,stillfightingforbreath."Wherewegoing,sir?"hemanaged.

           "Tothepalace.Anyofyoustillgotasword?"

           "Youcanusemine,Captain,"saidCarrot.Hehandeditover.

           "Right,"saidVimesquietly.Heglaredatthem."Let’sgo."

           TheranktrailedbehindVimesthroughthestrickenstreets.

           Hestartedtowalkfaster.Therankstartedtotrottokeepup.Vimesbegantotrottokeepahead.

           Therankbrokeintoacanter.

           Then,asifonanunspokenwordofcommand,theybrokeintoarun.

           Thenintoagallop.

           Peoplescurriedawayastheyrattledpast.Carrot’senormoussandalshammeredonthecobbles.SparksflewupfromthescadsofNobby’sboots.Colonranquietlyforsuchafatman,asfatmenoftendo,facelockedinascowlofconcentration.