Стража! Стража!

           TheypoundedalongtheStreetofCunningArtificers,turnedintoHogsbackAlley,emergedintotheStreetofSmallGodsandthunderedtowardsthepalace.Vimeskeptbarelyinthelead,mindcurrentlyemptyofeverythingexcepttheneedtorunandrun.

           Atleast,nearlyeverything.Buthisheadbuzzedandresonatedmanicallywiththoseofallcityguardseverywhere,allthepavement-poundingmeatheadsinthemultiversewhohadever,justoccasionally,triedtodowhatwasRight.

           Faraheadofthemahandfulofpalaceguardsdrewtheirswords,tookasecondlook,thoughtbetterofit,dartedbackinsidethewallandstartedtoclosethegates.TheyclangedtogetherasVimesarrived.

           Hehesitated,pantingforbreath,andlookedatthemassivethings.Theonesthatthedragonhadburnedhadbeenreplacedbygatesevenmoreforbidding.Frombehindthemcamethesoundofboltsslidingback.

           Thiswasnotimeforhalfmeasures.Hewasacaptain,godsdammit.Anofficer.Thingslikethisdidn’tpresentaproblemforanofficer.Officershadatriedandtestedwayofsolvingproblemslikethis.Itwascalledasergeant.

           "SergeantColon!"hesnapped,hismindstillbuzzingwithuniversalpolicemanhood,"shootthelockoff!"

           Thesergeanthesitated."What,sir?Withabowandarrow,sir?"

           "Imean-"Vimeshesitated."Imean,openthesegates!"

           "Sir!"Colonsaluted.Heglaredatthegatesforamoment."Right!"hebarked.