Стража! Стража!

           I’msorryifthisoffendsyou,"headded,pattingthecaptain’sshoulder,"butyoufellowsreallyneedus."

           "Yes,sir?"saidVimesquietly.

           "Oh,yes.We’retheonlyoneswhoknowhowtomakethingswork.Yousee,theonlythingthegoodpeoplearegoodatisoverthrowingthebadpeople.Andyou’regoodatthat,I’llgrantyou.Butthetroubleisthatit’stheonlythingyou’regoodat.Onedayit’stheringingofthebellsandthecastingdownoftheeviltyrant,andthenextit’severyonesittingaroundcomplainingthateversincethetyrantwasoverthrownno-one’sbeentakingoutthetrash.Becausethebadpeopleknowhowtoplan.It’spartofthespecification,youmightsay.Everyeviltyranthasaplantoruletheworld.Thegoodpeopledon’tseemtohavetheknack."

           "Maybe.Butyou’rewrongabouttherest!"saidVimes."It’sjustbecausepeopleareafraid,andalone-"Hepaused.Itsoundedprettyhollow,eventohim.

           Heshrugged."They’rejustpeople,"hesaid."They’rejustdoingwhatpeopledo.Sir."

           LordVetinarigavehimafriendlysmile.

           "Ofcourse,ofcourse,"hesaid."Youhavetobelievethat,Iappreciate.Otherwiseyou’dgoquitemad.Otherwiseyou’dthinkyou’restandingonafeather-thinbridgeoverthevaultsofHell.Otherwiseexistencewouldbeadarkagonyandtheonlyhopewouldbethatthereisnolifeafterdeath.Iquiteunderstand."Helookedathisdesk,andsighed,"Andnow,"hesaid,"thereissuchalottodo.