Thud! (Discworld 34)

it. What we could do is die valiantly. I"ve seen men die valiantly.

There"s no future in it.

"I don"t want it to come to it, captain-" Vimes stopped. A deeper

shadow had moved amongst the shadows.

"What"s the password?" he said quickly.

The shadowy figure, who was cloaked and hooded, hesitated. "Pathword? Ecthcuthe me, I"ve got it written down thome

where-" it began.

"Okay, Igor, come on in," said Carrot.

"How did you know it wath me, thur?" said Igor, ducking under

the barricade.

"Your aftershave" said Vimes, winking at the captain. "How did it go?" Jutht ath you thaid, thur," said Igor, pushing his hood back.

"Inthidentally, thur, I have thcrubbed the thlab well and my couthin

Igor ith thtanding by to lend a hand. In cathe of any little

acthidenth, thur. ..."

"Thank you for thinking of that, Igor," said Vimes, as if Igors ever

thought of anything else. "I hope it won"t be needed."

He looked up and down the Chain. The rain was falling

harder now. Just for once, the copper"s friend had turned up when

he really needed it. Rain tended to dampen martial enthusiasm. "Anyone seen Nobby?" he said.

A voice from the shadows said: "Here, Mister Vimes! Been here

five minutes!"

"Why didn"t you sing out, then?"

"Couldn"t remember the password, sir! I thought I"d wait till I heard Igor say it!"

"Oh, come on in. Did it work?"

"Better"n you"d imagine, sir!" said Nobby, rain pouring down his cloak.

Vimes stood back. "Okay, lads, then this is it. Carrot and Cheery, you head for the dwarfs, me and Detritus will take the trolls. You know the drill. Lines to advance slowly, and no edged weapons. I repeat, no edged weapons until it"s that or die. Let"s do this like coppers, okay? On the signal!"

He hurried back up the line of barricades as fast as the stir ran along the ranks of the watchmen. Detritus was waiting stoically. He grunted when Vimes arrived.

"Clubs have jus" about stopped, sir," he reported.

"I heard, sergeant." Vimes took off his oiled leather cloak and

hung it on the barricade. He needed his arms free.