The Chief Priest of Blind lo turned to the other priests. 'All right, you fellows, there's no need for any of that - '
'But Offler is a vengeful god,' said a priest at the back of the crowd.
'Trigger-happy is what he is,' said Ridcully. Another lightning bolt zigzagged down but bent at right-angles a few feet above the Chief Priest's hat and earthed itself on a wooden hippo, which split. The Chief Priest smiled smugly and turned back to Dorfl, who was making little clinking noises as he cooled.
'What you're saying is, you'll accept the existence of any god only if it can be proved by discussion?'
'Yes,'said Dorfl.
Ridcully rubbed his hands together. 'Not a problem, me old china,' he said. 'Firstly, let us take the - '
'Excuse Me,' said Dorfl. He bent down and picked up his badge. The lightning had given it an interesting melted shape.
'What are you doing?' said Ridcully.
'Somewhere, A Crime Is Happening,' said Dorfl. 'But When I Am Off Duty I Will Gladly Dispute With The Priest of The Most Worthy God.'
He turned and strode on across the bridge. Vimes nodded hurriedly at the shocked priests and ran after him. We took him and baked him in the fire and he's turned out to be free, he thought. No words in the head except the ones he's chosen to put there himself. And he's not just an atheist, he's a ceramic atheist. Fireproof!
It looked like being a good day.
Behind them, on the bridge, a fight was breaking out.
Angua was packing. Or, rather, she was failing to pack. The bundle couldn't be too heavy to carry by mouth. But a little money (she wouldn't have to buy much food) and a change of clothes (for those occasions when she might have to wear clothes) didn't have to take up much room.
'The boots are a problem,' she said aloud.
'Maybe if you knot the laces together you could carry them round your neck?' said Cheri, who was sitting on the narrow bed.
'Good idea. Do you want these dresses? I've never got round to wearing them. I expect you could cut them down.'
Cheri took them in both arms. 'This one's silkV
'There's probably enough material for you to make two for one.'
'D'you mind if I share them out? Only some of the lads - the ladies at the Watch House' - Cheri savoured the word 'ladies' - 'are beginning to get a bit thoughtful
'Going to melt down their helmets, are they?' said Angua.
'Oh, no. But perhaps they could be made into a more attractive design. Er...'
'Yes?'
'Urn...'
Cheri shifted uneasily.
'You've never actually eaten anyone, have you? You know... crunching bones and so on?'
'No.'
'I mean, I only heard my second cousin was eaten by werewolves. He was called Sfen.'
'Can't say I recall the name,' said Angua.
Cheri tried to grin. That's all right, then,' she said.
'So you won't need that silver spoon in your pocket,' said Angua.