Стража! Стража!

           Anotherpartofhisbrain,thehated,despicablepartwhichhadneverthelessenabledhimtosurviveintheGuardsthesepasttenyears,said:It’srudetobuttin.We’llwaituntilhe’sfinished,andthenaskhimifhewantsanyassistance.Besides,itisn’tWatchpolicytointerfereinfights.It’salotsimplertogoinafterwardsandarrestanyonerecumbent.

           Therewasacrashasanearbywindowburstoutwardsanddepositedastunnedfighterontheoppositesideofthestreet.

           "Ithink,"saidthecaptaincarefully,"thatwe’dbettertakepromptaction."

           "That’sright,"saidSgtColon,"amancouldgethurtstandinghere."

           Theysidledcautiouslyalittlewaydownthestreet,wherethesoundofsplinteringwoodandbreakingglasswasn’tsooverpowering,andcarefullyavoidedoneanother’seyes.Therewastheoccasionalscreamfromwithinthetavern,andeverynowandagainamysteriousringingnoise,asthoughsomeonewashittingagongwiththeirknee.

           Theystoodinalittlepoolofembarrassedsilence.

           "Youhadyourholidaysthisyear,Sergeant?"saidCaptainVimeseventually,rockingbackandforthonhisheels.

           "Yessir.SentthewifetoQuirmlastmonth,sir,toseeheraunt."

           "Veryniceatthistimeofyear,I’mtold."

           "Yessir."

           "Allthegeraniumsandwhatnot."