Стража! Стража!

           IamkeepingalittlebitbythoughbecauseIwenttoseeReetandMrsPalmsaidallthegirlshadbeenfollowingmycareerwithGreatInterestaswellandIamtocometodinneronmynightoff.SgtColonhasbeentellingmeabouthowtostartcourting,whichisveryinterestingandnotatallcomplicateditappears.Iarrestedadragonbutitgotaway.IhopeMrVarneshiiswell.

           Iamashappyasanyonecanbeinthewholeworld.

           Yourson,Carrot.

           Vimesknockedonthedoor.

           AnefforthadbeenmadetospruceuptheRamkinmansion,henoticed.Theencroachingshrubberyhadbeenpitilesslyhackedback.Anelderlyworkmanatopaladderwasnailingthestuccobackonthewallswhileanother,withaspade,wasratherarbitrarilydefiningthelinewherethelawnendedandtheoldflowerbedshadbegun.

           Vimesstuckhishelmetunderhisarm,smoothedbackhishair,andknocked.He’dconsideredaskingSergeantColontoaccompanyhim,buthadbrushedtheideaasidequickly.Hecouldn’thavetoleratedthesniggering.Anyway,whatwastheretobeafraidof?He’dstaredintothejawsofdeaththreetimes;four,ifyouincludedtellingLordVetinaritoshutup.

           Tohisamazementthedoorwaseventuallyopenedbyabutlersoelderlythathemighthavebeenresurrectedbytheknocking.

           "Yerss?"hesaid.

           "CaptainVimes,CityWatch,"saidVimes.

           Themanlookedhimupanddown.

           "Oh,yes,"hesaid."Herladyshipdidsay.Ibelieveherladyshipiswithherdragons,"hesaid.