Стража! Стража!

           "Idon’treckonhewastherightking,anyway,"saidCarrot."Talkingofkings:anyonewantacrisp?"

           "There’snorightlongs,"saidColon,butwithoutmuchrancour.Tendollarsamonthwasgoingtomakeabigdifference.MrsColonwasactingverydifferentlytowardsamanbringinghomeanothertendollarsamonth.Hernotesonthekitchentablewerealotmorefriendly.

           "No,butImean,there’snothingspecialabouthavinganancientsword,"saidCarrot."Orabirthmark.Imean,lookatme.I’vegotabirthmarkonmyarm."

           "Mybrother’sgotone,too,"saidColon."Shapedlikeaboat."

           "Mine’smorelikeacrownthing,"saidCarrot.

           "Oho,thatmakesyouaking,then,"grinnedNobby."Standstoreason."

           "Idon’tseewhy.Mybrother’snotanadmiral,"saidColonreasonably.

           "AndI’vegotthissword,"saidCarrot.

           Hedrewit.Colontookitfromhishand,andturneditoverandoverinthelightfromtheflareovertheDrum’sdoor.Thebladewasdullandshort,andnotchedlikeasaw.Itwaswell-madeandtheremighthavebeenaninscriptiononitonce,butithadlongagobeenwornintoindecipherabilitybysheeruse.

           "It’sanicesword,"hesaidthoughtfully."Well-balanced."

           "Butnotoneforaking,"saidCarrot."Kings’swordsarebigandshinyandmagicalandhavejewelsonandwhenyouholdthemuptheycatchthelight,ting."

           "Ting,"saidColon."Yes.Isupposetheyhaveto,really."