Стража! Стража!

           TheWatchhadn’tlikedit,buttheplainfactwasthatthethieveswerefarbetteratcontrollingcrimethantheWatchhadeverbeen.Afterall,theWatchhadtoworktwiceashardtocutcrimejustalittle,whereasalltheGuildhadtodowastoworkless.

           Andsothecityprospered,whiletheWatchhaddwindledaway,likeauselessappendix,intoahandfulofunemployableswhono-oneintheirrightmindcouldevertakeseriously.

           Thelastthinganyonewantedthemtodowasgetitintotheirheadstofightcrime.Butseeingtheheadthiefdiscommodedwasalwaysworththetrouble,thePatricianfelt.

           ...

           CaptainVimesknockedveryhesitantlyatthedoor,becauseeachtapechoedaroundhisskull.

           "Enter."

           Vimesremovedhishelmet,tuckeditunderhisarmandpushedthedooropen.Itscreakwasabluntsawacrossthefrontofhisbrain.

           HealwaysfeltuneasyinthepresenceofLupineWonse.Cometothat,hefeltuneasyinthepresenceofLordVetinari-butthatwasdifferent,thatwasdowntobreeding.Andordinaryfear,ofcourse.Whereashe’dknownWonsesincetheirchildhoodintheShades.Theboyhadshownpromiseeventhen.Hewasneveragangleader.Neveragangleader.Hadn’tgotthestrengthorstaminaforthat.And,afterall,whatwasthepointinbeingthegangleader?Behindeverygangleaderwereacoupleoflieutenantsbuckingforpromotion.