Стража! Стража!

           "Ihopeso,"saidNobby.HenoddedtothetrollwhichwasemployedbytheDrumasasplatter,"Eve-nin’,Detritus.Justshowingthenewladtheropes."

           Thetrollgrunted,andwavedacrustedarm.

           TheinsideoftheMendedDrumisnowlegendaryasthemostfamousdisreputabletavernontheDisc-world,andsuchafeatureofthecitythat,afterrecentunavoidableredecorations,thenewownerspentdaysrecreatingtheoriginalpatinaofdirt,sootandlessidentifiablesubstancesonthewallsandimportedatonofpre-rottedrushesforthefloor.Thedrinkersweretheusualbunchofheroes,cutthroats,mercenaries,desperadoesandvillains,andonlymicroscopicanalysiscouldhavetoldwhichwaswhich.Thickcoilsofsmokehungintheair,perhapstoavoidtouchingthewalls.

           Theconversationdippedfractionallyasthetwoguardswanderedin,andthenrosetoitsformerlevel.AcoupleofcronieswavedtoNobby.

           HerealisedthatCarrotwasbusy.

           "Whatyoudoin’?"hesaid."Andnotalkin’aboutmothers,right?"

           "I’mtakingnotes,"saidCarrot,grimly."I’vegotanotebook."

           "That’stheticket,"saidNobby."You’lllikethisplace.Icomeshereeverynightformysupper."

           "Howdoyouspell’contravention’?"saidCarrot,turningoverapage.

           "Idon’t,"saidNobby,pushingthroughthecrowds.Arareimpulsetogenerositylodgedinhismind."Whatd’youwanttodrink?"