Стража! Стража!

           Godswentoverboardforsmartbastardswhoseideaofaday’sworkwasprisingtheRubyEyeoftheEarwigKingoutofitssocket,notforsomeunimaginativesapwhojustpoundedthepavementeverynight...

           "Moresortofslithery,"saidthesergeant,wholikedtogetthingsright.

           Andthentherewasasound-

           -perhapsavolcanicsound,orthesoundofaboilinggeyser,butatanyratealong,dryroarofasound,likethebellowsintheforgesoftheTitans-

           -butitwasnotsobadasthelight,whichwasblue-whiteandthesortoflighttoprintthepatternofyoureyeballs’bloodvesselsonthebackoftheinsideofyourskull.

           Theybothwentonforhundredsofyearsandthen,instantly,stopped.

           Thedarkaftermathwasfilledwithpurpleimagesand,oncetheearsregainedanabilitytohear,afaint,clinkerysound.

           Theguardsremainedperfectlystillforsometime.

           "Well,well,"saidthecaptainweakly.

           Afterafurtherpausehesaid,veryclearly,everyconsonantslottingperfectlyintoplace,"Sergeant,takesomemenandinvestigatethat,willyou?"

           "Investigatewhat,sir?"saidColon,butithadalreadydawnedonthecaptainthatifthesergeanttooksomemenitwouldleavehim,CaptainVimes,allalone.

           "No,I’veabetteridea.We’llallgo,"hesaidfirmly.Theyallwent.