Стража! Стража!

           "Andtrustandfraternity,"saidtheSupremeGrandMaster.

           "Yeah.Andthem,too,"saidBrotherFingers.

           "So,"saidtheSupremeGrandMaster,"iftherebeanyoneherenotanxious,yea,eagertocontinueinthisgreatwork,lethimstepforwardnow.’’

           No-onemoved.

           They’rehooked.Yegods,I’mgoodatthis,thoughttheSupremeGrandMaster.Icanplayontheirhorriblelittlemindslikeaxylophone.It’samazing,thesheerpowerofmundanity.Who’dhavethoughtthatweaknesscouldbeagreaterforcethanstrength?Butyouhavetoknowhowtodirectit.AndIdo.

           "Verywell,then,"hesaid."Andnow,wewillrepeattheOath."

           Heledtheirstumbling,terrifiedvoicesthroughit,notingwithapprovalthestrangledwaytheysaid’fig-gin’.AndhekeptoneeyeonBrotherFingers,too.

           He’sslightlybrighterthantheothers,hethought.Slightlylessgullible,atleast.BettermakesureI’malwaysthelasttoleave.Don’twantanycleverideasaboutfollowingmehome.

           ...

           YouneedaspecialkindofmindtoruleacitylikeAnkh-Morpork,andLordVetinarihadit.Butthen,hewasaspecialkindofperson.

           Hebaffledandinfuriatedthelessermerchantprinces,totheextentthattheyhadlongagogivenuptryingtoassassinatehimandnowmerelyjockeyedforpositionamongstthemselves.