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Men at Arms Terry Pratchett 33310K 2023-08-31

'Good day to you You couldn't spare I ten thousand dollars for a small mansion, could you?'

'No'

'Just asking'

Queen Molly prodded at the gown

'What was it, corporal?'

'I think it's a new kind of weapon'

'We heard the glass smash and there she was,' said Molly 'Why would anyone want to kill her?'

Carrot looked at the velvet cloak

'Whose roo room'

'Then whoever did it wasn't after her He was after you, Molly "Soown"it's in your Charter, isn't it? Official dress of the chief beggar She probably couldn't resist seeing what it looked like on her Right gown, right roo person'

Molly put her hand to her

'Assassination?'

Carrot shook his head 'That doesn't sound right They like to do it up dose It's a caring profession,' he added, bitterly

'What should I do?'

'Burying the poor thing would be a good start' Carrot turned the ers Then he sniffed it

'Fireworks,' he said

'Yes,' said Angua

'And what are you going to do?' said Queen Molly

'You're Watch to do about it?'

Cuddy and Detritus were proceeding along Phedre Road It was lined with tanneries and brick kilns and tienerally considered a beauty spot which hy, Cuddy suspected, they'd been given it to patrol 'to get to know the city' It got theht they made the place look untidy

There was no sound but the clink of his boots and the thuround

Finally, Cuddy said: 'I just want you to know that I don't like being tea teaht!'

'But if we're going to have to es, OK?'

'Like what?'

'Like it's ridiculous you not even being able to count I know trolls can count Why can't you?'

'Can count!'

'Howup, then?'

Detritus squinted

'Two?'

'OK Noup?'

'Twoand one more'

'So two and one more is?'

Detritus looked panicky This was calculus territory

'Two and one more is three'

'Two and one more is three'

'No many?'

'Two and two'

'That's four'

'Four-er'

'No ers

'A twofour'

Cuddy looked surprised He'd expected 'many', or possibly 'lots'

'What's a twofour?'

A two and a two and a two and a two'

Cuddy put his head on one side

'Hht'

'Ate'

'You know,' said Cuddy, subjecting the troll to a long critical stare, 'you ht not be as stupid as you look This is not hard Let's think about this I meanI'll think about this, and you can join in when you know the words'

Vieant Colon looked up from his desk He had a pleased expression

'What's been happening, Fred?'

Colon took a deep breath

'Interesting stuff, captain Me and Nobby did so up at the Fools' Guild I've writ it all doe found out It's all here A proper report'

'Fine'

'All written down, look Properly Punctuation and everything'

'Well done'

'It's got co, look'

'I'm sure I shall enjoy it, Fred'

'And the--and Cuddy and Detritus have found out stuff, too Cuddy's done a report, too But it's not got sohave I been asleep?'

'Six hours'

Vimes tried to make ot to get so And then the world will so Phedre Roadat one another in exciteht, and a one!'

'See? How many bricks in that pile?'

Pause

A sixteen, an eight, a four, a one!'

'Reht-and-two?'

Longer pause