"I"m investigating reports of a death," he said.
"Yes. Grag Hamcrusher. A terrible misfortune," said Ardent with a
calmness that was enraging.
"I"ve heard it was a vicious murder.
"That would be a fair description:
"You admit it?" said Vimes.
"I"ll choose to assume that you mean by that: "Do I admit there has been a murder?" commander. Yes. There has. And we are dealing with it."
"How?"
"We are discussing the appointment of a zadkrdga," said Ardent, folding his hands. "That is "one who smelts" One who finds the pure ore of truth in the dross of confusion."
"Discussing? Have you sealed off the scene of the crime yet?"
"The smelter may order that, commander, but we already know that the crime was committed by a troll." Ardent"s face now bore an
expression of amused contempt that Vimes longed to remove. "How do you know this? Was it witnessed?"
"Not as such. But a troll"s club was found beside the body," said
the dwarf.
"And that"s all you have to go on?" Vimes stood up. "I"ve had
enough of this. Sergeant Angua!"
"Sir?" said Angua, beside him.
"Let"s go. We"re going to find the murder scene while there"s still
any clues left to find!"
"You have no business in the lower areas!" snapped Ardent, standing up.
"How are you going to stop me?"
"How are you going to get past locked doors?"
"How are you going to find out who murdered Hamcrusher?" I told you, a troll club was found!"
"And that"s it? "We found a club so a troll did it?" Is anyone going
to believe that? You"re prepared to start a war in my city with a piece
of flim-flam like that? Because, believe me, that"s what"s going to
happen when this gets out. Try it and I"ll arrest you!"
"And start a war in your city?" said Ardent.
Dwarf and man glared at one another, while they got their
breath. On the ceiling above them, vurms congregated, feasting on