Стража! Стража!

           Nobbychokedonsomesmokethatwentthewrongway.

           "IntheShades?"hewheezed."You’restayingthere?"

           "Oh,yes."

           "Everynight?"

           "Well,everyday,really.Yes."

           "Andyou’vecomeheretohaveamanmadeofyou?"

           "Yes!"

           "Idon’tthinkIshouldliketolivewhereyoucomefrom,"saidNobby.

           "Look,"saidCarrot,thoroughlylost,"IcamebecauseMrVarneshisaiditwasthefinestjobintheworld,upholdingthelawandeverything.That’sright,isn’tit?"

           "Well,er,"saidNobby."Astothat...Imean,upholdingtheLaw...Imean,once,yes,beforewehadalltheGuildsandstuff...thelaw,sortofthing,ain’treally,Imean,thesedays,everything’smore...oh,Idunno.Basicallyyoujustringyourbellandkeepyourheaddown.’’

           Nobbysighed.Thenhegrunted,snatchedhishourglassfromhisbelt,andpeeredinattherapidly-drainingsandgrains.Heputitback,pulledtheleathermuffleroffhisbell’sclapper,andshookitonceortwice,notveryloudly.

           "Twelveoftheclock,"hemuttered,"andall’swell."

           "Andthat’sit,isit?"saidCarrot,asthetinyechoesdiedaway.