Стража! Стража!

           "MyfatherwasaSam,"saidBrendavaguely."YoucanalwaystrustaSam,hesaid."Sheshooedadragonbackintoitsbox."We’rejusthelpingSybil.Oldfriends,youknow.Thecollection’salltoblazes,ofcourse.They’realloverthecity,thelittledevils.Idaresaythey’llcomebackwhenthey’rehungry,though.Whatabloodline,eh?"

           "I’msorry?"

           "Sybilreckonshewasasport,butIsayweshouldbeabletobreedbackintothelineinthreeorfourgenerations.I’mfamedformystud,youknow,"shesaid."That’dbesomething,though.Awholenewtypeofdragon."

           Vimesthoughtofsupersoniccontrailscriss-crossingthesky.

           "Er,"hesaid."Yes."

           "Well,wemustgeton."

           "Er,isn’tLadyRamkinaround?"saidVimes."Igotthismessagethatitwasessential,shesaid,formetocomehere."

           "She’sindoorssomewhere,"saidMissRodley."Saidshehadsomethingimportanttoseeto.Oh,dobecarefulwiththatone,Rose,yousillygel!"

           "Moreimportantthandragons?"saidVimes.

           "Yes.Can’tthinkwhat’scomeoverher."BrendaRodleyfishedinthepocketofanoversizedwaistcoat."Nicetohavemetyou,Captain.AlwaysgoodtomeetnewmembersoftheFancy.Dodropinanytimeyou’repassing,I’dbeonlytoohappytoshowyouaround."Sheextractedagrubbycardandpresseditintohishand."Mustbeoffnow,we’veheardthatsomeofthemaretryingtobuildnestsontheUniversitytower.Can’thavethat.Mustget’emdownbeforeitgetsdark."