Guards! Guards! (Discworld 8)

“Pardon?” he said.

o;I thought you were all dead,” he mumbled. It was strangely quiet and the colours around him seemed washed-out, muted. Something was very wrong. “Is that you, Brother Doorkeeper?” he ventured.

The figure reached out.

METAPHORICALLY, it said.

...

-and the Patrician handed the sword to Carrot.

“Very well done, young man,” he said. “Captain Vimes, I suggest you give your men the rest of the day off.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Vimes. “Okay, lads. You heard his lordship.”

“But not you, Captain. We must have a little talk.”

“Yes, sir?” said Vimes innocently.

The rank scurried out, giving Vimes sympathetic and sorrowful glances.

The Patrician walked to the edge of the floor and looked down.

“Poor Wonse,” he said.

“Yes, sir.” Vimes stared at the wall.

“I would have preferred him alive, you know.”

“Sir?”

“Misguided, yes, but a useful man. His head could have been of further use to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The rest, of course, we could have thrown away.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That was a joke, Vimes.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The chap never grasped the idea of secret passages, mind you.”

“No, sir.”

“That young fellow. Carrot, you called him?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Keen fellow. Likes it in the Watch?”

“Yes, sir. Right at home, sir.”

“You saved my life.”

“Sir?”