Стража! Стража!

           "Irememberwhatwehangthemupby,"saidCarrot.

           "Oh,"saidNobbyweakly."Where?"

           "Wehangthemupbythetownhall,"saidCarrot."Sometimesfordays.Theydon’tdoitagain,Icantellyou.AndBjornStronginthearm’syouruncle."

           Nobbyleanedhispikeagainstthewallandfumbledafag-endfromtherecessesofhisear.Oneortwothings,hedecided,neededtobesortedout.

           "Whydidyouhavetobecomeaguard,lad?"hesaid.

           "Everyonekeepsonaskingmethat,"saidCarrot."Ididn’thaveto.Iwantedto.ItwillmakeaManofme."

           Nobbyneverlookedanyonedirectlyintheeye.HestaredatCarrot’srightearinamazement.

           "Youmeanyouain’trunningawayfromanything?"hesaid.

           "WhatwouldIwanttorunawayfromanythingfor?"

           Nobbyflounderedabit."Ah.There’salwayssomething.Maybe-maybeyouwaswronglyaccusedofsomething.Like,maybe,"hegrinned,"maybethestoreswasmysteriouslyshortoncertainitemsandyouwasunjustlyblamed.Orcertainitemswasfoundinyourkitandyouneverknewhowtheygotthere.Thatsortofthing.YoucantelloldNobby.Or,’’henudgedCarrot,"p’rapsitwassomethingelse,eh?Shershaylafern,eh?Gotagirlintotrouble?"