Стража! Стража!

           Whichwasastonishingnewstothevariousshadowyfigureswhohadbeensilentlyshadowingthefourofthemforsometime.Onlysheerpuzzlementhadpreventedthemmakingtheirattentionssharpandplain.Thesepeopleareclearlyguards,theywerethinking,they’vegottherighthelmetsandeverything,andyetheretheyareintheShades.Sotheywerebeingwatchedwiththefascinationthatapackofwolvesmightfocusonahandfulofsheepwhohadnotonlytrottedintotheclearing,butweremakingplayfulbuttsandbaa-ingnoises;theoutcomewas,ofcourse,goingtobemuttonbutinthemeantimeinquisitivenessgaveastayofexecution.

           Carrotraisedhismuzzyhead.

           "Where’rewe?"hegroaned.

           "Onourwayhome,"saidthesergeant.Helookedupatthepitted,worm-eatenandknife-scoredsignabovethem."We’rejus’goin’down,goin’down,goin’down-"hesquinted-"SweetheartLane."

           "SweetheartLanes’notonthewayhome,"slurredNobby."Wewouldn’twantagodownSweetheartLane,it’sintheShades.Catchusgoin’downSweetheartLane-"

           Therewasacrowdedmomentinwhichrealisationdidtheicyworkofagoodnight’ssleepandseveralpintsofblackcoffee.Thethreeofthem,byunspokenagreement,clustereduptowardsCarrot.

           "Whatwegonnado,Captain?"saidColon.

           "Er.Wecouldcallforhelp,"saidthecaptainuncertainly.

           "What,here?"