Page 47 (1/2)

To his astonishment Carrot patted him companion-ably on the shoulder

"I kno it is," he said syirl back home, her name was Minty, and her father-"

"Look, for the last tian

There was a rattle beside them A small avalanche of plaster and thatch rolled down The rubble heaved, and opened one eye One big black pupil floating in a bloodshot glow tried to focus on them

"We must be mad," said Vimes

"Oh, no, sir," said Carrot "There's plenty of precedents In 1135 a hen was arrested for crowing on Soul Cake Thursday And during the regime of Psy-choneurotic Lord Snapcase a colony of bats was executed for persistent curfew violations That was in 1401 August, I think Great days for the law, they were," said Carrot dreamily "In 1321, you know, a s the cliath's investiture cereets a move on with-" Vimes stopped He had to know "How?" he said "What can you do to a cloud?"

"The Earl sentenced it to be stoned to death," said Carrot "Apparently thirty-one people were killed" He pulled out his notebook and glared at the dragon

"Can it hear us, do you think?" he said

"I suppose so"

' 'Well, then'' Carrot cleared his throat and turned back to the stunned reptile "It is my duty to warn you that you are to be reported for consideration of prosecution on so counts, to whit: One, (One) i, that on or about 18th Grune last, in a place known as Sweetheart Lane, the Shades, you did unlawfully vent flarievous bodily harm, in contravention of Clause Seven of the Industrial Processes Act, 1508; AND THAT, One, (One) ii, that on or about 18th Grune last, in a place known as Sweetheart Lane, the Shades, you caused or did cause to cause the death of six persons unknown-"

Vi the rubble would hold the creature down Several weeks would be necessary, if the length of the charge sheet was anything to go by

The croent silent Even Sybil Ra in astonishment

' 'What's the matter?'' said Vion being arrested before?

"-Sixteen (Three) ii, on the night of Grune 24th last, you did flame or cause to flame those premises known as the Old Watch House, Ankh-Morpork, valued at two hundred dollars; AND THAT, Sixteen (Three) iii, on the night of Grune 24th last, upon being apprehended by an officer of the Watch in the execution of his duty-"

"I think we should hurry up," whispered Vi rather restive Is all this necessary?"

"Well, I believe one can sum to Bregg's Rules for-"

"It may come as a surprise, but these are exceptional circu to be really astonishingly exceptional if Colon doesn't hurry up with that rope"

More rubble et up There was a thuan to run for it

It was at this point that Enrol came back over the rooftops in a series oflow, he buzzed the crowd and sent the front rank stuhorn

Vi started to scrabble desperately to get free

"He's come back for the kill!" he shouted "It probably took him all this ti over the fallen dragon, and hooting shrilly enough to bust bottles

The great dragon stuck its head up in a cascade of plaster dust It opened its mouth but, instead of the lance of white fire that Vimes tensed himself to expect, it merelyinto a tin bath at the bottom of a cave, but still a kitten

Broken spars fell aside when the huge creature got unsteadily to its feet The great wings opened, showering the surrounding streets with dust and bits of thatch So back hat looked like a s line coiled over his aret up!" Vieant to safety "You're not supposed to let it get up, Errol! Don't let it get up!"

Lady Raht," she said "They never usually fight like that The winner usually kills the loser"

"Right on!" shouted Nobby

"And then half the time he explodes with the excitement in any case"

"Look, it's me!" Vimes yelled, as Errol hovered unconcernedly over the scene "I bought you the fluffy ball! The one with the bell in it! You can't do this to us!"

"No, wait aa hand on his ar end of the stick here-"

The great dragon leapt into the air and brought its wings doith a whu around, the bleary eyes caught sight of Vi on inside them

Errol arced across the sky and hovered protectively in front of the captain, facing the thing down For a ht be turned into a son lowered its gaze in a slightly embarrassed way and started to rise

It cli speed as it did so Errol ith it, orbiting the huge body like a tug around a liner

"It's-it's as though he's fussing over it," said Vimes

"Add up the bastard!" shouted Nobby enthusiastically

"Total, Nobby," said Colon "You aze on the back of his neck He looked at her expression

Realisation dawned "Oh," he said