Стража! Стража!

           "Goodgrief,"Vimessaid."DameNaturemovesinstrangeways,doesn’tshe."

           "Rightyouare,sir,"saidthesergeantobediently.

           "Andnow,"saidthecaptain,drawinghissword,"forward!"

           "Yessir."

           "Thismeansyoutoo,Sergeant,"thecaptainadded.

           "Yessir."

           ...

           Itwaspossiblythemostcircumspectadvanceinthehistoryofmilitarymanoeuvres,rightdownatthebottomendofthescalethatthingsliketheChargeoftheLightBrigadeareatthetopof.

           Theypeeredcautiouslyaroundtheravisheddoorway.

           Therewereanumberofpeoplesprawledacrossthetables,orwhatremainedofthetables.Thosewhowerestillconsciouslookedunhappyaboutit.

           Carrotstoodinthemiddleofthefloor.Hisrustychainmailwastorn,hishelmetwasmissing,hewasswayingalittlefromsidetosideandoneeyewasalreadystartingtoswell,butherecognisedthecaptain,droppedthefeebly-protestingcustomerhewasholding,andthrewasalute.