Стража! Стража!

           "Well,"hebegan,"sometimes,wethought,youknow,whenwehasourdinnerbreak,orwhenit’squite,like,attheendofawatchasitmaybe,andwewanttorelaxabit,youknow,winddown..."Hisvoicetrailedaway.

           "Yes?"

           Colontookadeepbreath.

           "Isupposeadartboardwouldbeoutofthequestion-?"

           Thethunderoussilencethatfollowedwasbrokenbyanerraticsnorting.

           Vimes’shelmetdroppedoutofhisshakinghand.Hisbreastplatewobbledasthesuppressedlaughteroftheyearsburstoutingreatuncontrollableeruptions.Heturnedhisfacetotherowofcouncillorsandlaughedandlaugheduntilthetearscame.

           Laughedatthewaytheygotup,allconfusionandoutrageddignity.

           LaughedatthePatrician’scarefullyimmobileexpression.

           Laughedfortheworldandthesavingofsouls.

           Laughedandlaughed,andlaugheduntilthetearscame.

           NobbycraneduptoreachColon’sear.

           "Itoldyou,"hehissed."Isaidthey’dneverwearit.Iknewadartboard’dbepushingourluck.You’veupset’emallnow."

           DearMotherandFather[wroteCarrot]Youwillneverguess,IhavebeenintheWatchonlyafewweeksand,alreadyIamtobeafullConstable.CaptainVimessaid,thePatricianhimselfsaidIwastobeOne,andthatalsohehopedIshouldhavealongandsuccessfulcareerintheWatchaswelland,hewouldfollowitwithspecialinterest.AlsomywagesaretogoupbytendollarsandwehadaspecialbonusoftwentydollarsthatCaptainVimespaidforoutofhisownpocket,

           SgtColonsaid.Pleasefindmoneyenclosed.