joined together. He"s down at Chittling Street."

"Then get hold of his sergeant and tell him Hector is not allowed

on the street tonight, okay? I want him introduced to the joys of

filing. In a cellar, if possible. And wearing a very thick helmet." "I understand, sir," said Carrot.

"How"s Angua?"

"I think she"ll be fine after having a lie-down, sir. The mine really got to her."

"I"m really, really sorry about that-" Sally began.

"Not your fault, lance-constable ... Sally," said Vimes. "It was mine. I know about the vampire and werewolf thing, but I needed you both to be down there. It"s just one of those decisions, okay? I suggest you take the evening off. No, that"s an order. You"ve done very well on your first day. Off you go. Get your head down ... or whatever."

They watched her out of sight before continuing down the street.

"She is very good, sir," said Carrot. "She picks things up fast."

"Yes, very fast. I can see she"s going to be useful," said Vimes thoughtfully. "Doesn"t that strike you as odd, captain? Up she pops, just when we need her."

"She has been in Ankh-Morpork for a couple of months, though," said Carrot. "And the League vouches for her."

"A couple of months is about the same time as Hamcrusher"s been here too," said Vimes. "And if you wanted to find things out, we"re not a bad outfit to join. We"re official prodnoses."

"Sir, you don"t think-"

"Oh, I"m sure she"s a Black Ribboner, but I don"t think a vampire comes all the way from Uberwald to play the cello. Still, as you say, she does a good job. Vimes stared at nothing for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Doesn"t one of our Specials work for the clacks company?"

"That"d be Andy Hancock, sir," said Carrot.

"Oh gods. You mean "Two Swords"?"

"That"s him, sir. Very keen lad."

"Yes, I saw the dockets. Normally a training dummy lasts for months, captain. You"re not supposed to chop through three in half an hour!"

"He"ll be down at the Yard now, sir. Do you want a word with him?" said Carrot.

"No. You have a word with him:

Vimes lowered his voice. So did Carrot. There was whispering. Then Carrot said, "Is that strictly legal, sir?"

"I don"t see how. Let"s find out, shall we? We haven"t had this little conversation, captain."

"Understood, sir."

Ye gods, it was so much better when there were just four of us up against that bloody great dragon, Vimes thought as they walked on. Of course, we nearly got burned alive a few times, but at least it wasn"t complicated. It was a damn great dragon. You could see it coming. It didn"t get political on you.

It had started to rain a fine invasive rain by the time they arrived at Pseudopolis Yard. Vimes had, with extreme reluctance, to hand it to Carrot. He certainly could organize. The place was bustling. Wagon-loads of yellow and black barricades were being trundled out of the old lemonade factory. Watchmen were pouring in from every street.

"I really pushed the boat out on this one, sir," said Carrot. "I thought it was important.

"Well done, captain," said Vimes, as they stood like islands in the

flood. "But I think there is a little matter of forward planning you may have overlooked..."

"Really, sir? I think I"ve covered everything; said Carrot, looking puzzled.

Tags: Terry Pratchett Discworld Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net