Стража! Стража!

           BrotherWatchtowershookhisheadslowly,andturnedhisattentiononceagaintohisscrewdriver.

           ...

           MenlikeCorporalNobbscanbefoundineveryarmedforce.AlthoughtheirgraspoftheminutiaeoftheRegulationsisusuallyencyclopedic,theytakegoodcarenevertobepromotedbeyond,perhaps,corporal.Hetendedtospeakoutofthecornerofhismouth.Hesmokedincessantlybuttheweirdthing,Carrotnoticed,wasthatanycigarettesmokedbyNobbybecameadog-endalmostinstantlybutremainedadog-endindefinitelyoruntillodgedbehindhisear,whichwasasortofnicotineElephant’sGraveyard.Ontherareoccasionshetookoneoutofhismouthhehelditcuppedinhishand.

           Hewasasmall,bandy-leggedman,withacertainresemblancetoachimpanzeewhonevergotinvitedtoteaparties.

           Hisagewasindeterminate.Butincynicismandgeneralworldweariness,whichisasortofcarbondatingofthepersonality,hewasaboutseventhousandyearsold.

           "Acushynumber,thisroute,"hesaid,astheystrolledalongadampstreetinthemerchants’quarter.Hetriedadoorhandle.Itwaslocked."Youstickwithme,"headded,"andI’llseeyou’reallright.Now,youtrythehandlesontheothersideofthestreet."

           "Ah.Iunderstand,CorporalNobbs.We’vegottoseeifanyone’slefttheirstoreunlocked,"saidCarrot.

           "Youcatchonfast,son."