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'It's slow, then,' said Sergeant Colon 'All the others just struck, you couldn't en makes ones like these,' said Cuddy 'They keep better ti pendulu and wheels,' said Carrot

'The ilass fro the watch carefully, 'is a little rocking-thingu too fast'

'How does it know if they're going too fast?' said Angua

'It's kind of built-in,' said Cuddy 'Don't understand it much myself What's this inscription here'

He read it aloud

' "A Watch From, Your Old Freinds in the Watch"?'

'It's a play on words,' said Carrot

There was a long, embarrassed silence

'Um I chipped in a few dollars each fro 'I meanyou can pay me back when you like If you want to I ot to know hilances

He could lead arht He really could Soreat deeds because of the power of their vision And so could he Not because he drea hordes, or world domination, or an empire of a thousand years Just because he thinks that everyone's really decent underneath and would get along just fine if only they ly it burns like a flaot a dream and we're all part of it, so that it shapes the world around hi is that no-one wants to disappoint hiest puppy in the universe It's a kind ofoff,' said Cuddy 'But it's a good watch,' he added quickly

'I was hoping we could give it to hio out for adrink'

'Not a good idea,' said Angua

'Leave it until touard of honour at the wedding That's traditional Everyone holds their swords up in a kind of arch'

'We've only got one sword between us,' said Carrot glumly

They all stared at the floor

'It's not fair,' said Angua 'I don't care who stole whatever they stole froht to try to find out who killed Mr Hammerhock And no-one cares about Lettice Knibbs'

'I like to find out who shoot me,' said Detritus

'Beats h to steal from the Assassins,' said Carrot 'That's what Captain Vi into that place'

They stared at the floor again

'Like a clown or a jester?' said Detritus

'Detritus, he didn't mean a cap-and-bells Fool,' said Carrot, in a kindly voice 'He just meant you'd have to be some sort of idi--'

He stopped He stared at the ceiling

'Oh, my,' he said 'It's as siua

Someone hammered at the door It wasn't a polite knock It was the thu to have the door opened for theuard stumbled into the room Half his arnizable as Skully Muldoon of the Day Watch

Colon helped hiht, Skully?'

Skully looked up at Detritus, and whiers attacked the Watch House!'

'Who?'

'Them!'

Carrot patted him on the shoulder

'This isn't a troll,' he said 'This is Lance-Constable Detritus – don't salute Trolls attacked the Day Watch?'

'They're chucking cobbles!'

'You can't trust 'em,' said Detritus

'Who?' said Skully

'Trolls Nasty pieces of work in my opinion,' said Detritus, with all the conviction of a troll with a badge 'They need keeping a eye on'

'What's happened to Quirke?' said Carrot

'I don't know! You lot have got to do so''

'We're stood down,' said Colon 'Official'

'Don't give htly He pulled a stub of pencil out of his pocket and ot that little house in Easy Street, Sergeant Muldoon?'

'What? What? Yes! What about it?'

'Is the rent wortha month?'

Muldoon stared at hi eye

'Are you si sh? Worth a farthing, would you say?'

'There's dwarfs running around the streets looking for a fight and you want to know about property prices?'

'A farthing?'

'Don't be daft! It's worth at least five dollars a ain 'That'd be inflation, of course And I expect you've got a cooking potdo you own at least two-and-one-third acres and ht,' said Muldoon 'It's soht?'

'I think probably the property qualification can be waived,' said Carrot 'It says here that it can be waived for a citizen in good standing Finally, has there been, in your opinion, an irreparable breakdown of law and order in the city?'

'They turned over Throat Dibbler's barrow and es-inna-bun!'

'Oh, I say!' said Colon

'Without mustard!'

'I think we can call that a Yes,' said Carrot He ticked the page again, and closed the book with a definite snap

'We'd better be going,' he said

'We were told--' Colon began

'According to the Laws and Ordinances of Ankh-Morpork,' said Carrot, 'any residents of the city, in times of the irreparable breakdown of law and order, shall, at the requeft of an officer of the city who is a citizen in good standing – there's a lot of stuff here about property and stuff, and then it goes on – form themfelves into a militia for city defence'

'What does that eant Colon

'Hang on, you can't do that!' said Muldoon 'That's nonsense!'

'It's the law Never been repealed,' said Carrot

'We've never had a militia! Never needed one!'

'Until now, I think'

'Now look here,' said Muldoon, 'you come back with me to the Palace You'reto defend the city,' said Carrot

People were strea past the Watch House Carrot stopped a couple by the si out his hand