Someone sniggered.
'I hope you're not going to kill anyone,' said Carrot.
That's up to us!'
'Sorry, was I talking to you?' said Carrot.
'Don't worry, I'll be fine,' said Angua. She looked around to make sure Cheery wasn't there, and then sighed. 'Come on, gentlemen, let's get it over with.'
'Don't play with your food!' said a voice from the crowd.
There were one or two giggles until Carrot turned in his seat, whereupon everyone was suddenly intensely interested in their drinks.
'It's okay,' said Angua quietly.
Aware that something was out of kilter, but not quite sure what it was, the thieves edged back to the door. No one moved as they unbolted it and, still holding Angua, stepped out into the fog, shutting the door behind them.
'Hadn't we better help?' said a constable who was new to the Watch.
They don't deserve help,' said Vimes.
There was a clank of armour and then a long, deep growl, right outside in the street.
And a scream. Ancl then another scream. And a third scream, modulated with 'NONONOnonononononoNO!... aarghaargh aargh!' Something heavy hit the door.
Vimes turned back to Carrot. 'You and Constable Angua,' he said. 'You ... er ... get along all right?'
'Fine, sir/ said Carrot.
'Some people might think that, er, there might be, er, problems...'
There was a thud, and then a faint bubbling noise.
'We work around them, sir,' said Carrot, raising his voice slightly.
'I heard that her father's not very happy about her working here...'
They don't have much law up in Uberwald, sir. They think it's for weak societies. The baron's not a very civic-minded man.'
'He's pretty bloodthirsty, from what I've heard.'
'She wants to stay in the Watch, sir. She likes meeting people.'
From outside came another gurgle. Fingernails scrabbled at a windowpane. Then their owner disappeared abruptly from view.
'Well, it's not for me to judge,' said Vimes.
'No, sir.'
After a few moments of silence the door opened, slowly. Angua walked in, adjusting her clothes, and sat down. All the Watchmen in the room suddenly took a second course of advanced beer-study.
'Er ... Carrot began.
'Flesh wounds,' said Angua. 'But one of them did shoot one of the others in the leg by accident.'
'I think you'd better put it in your report as self-inflicted wounds while resisting arrest ,' said Vimes.
'Yes, sir,' said Angua.