tp.guards!guards!-第18部分

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　It　can't　do　something　like　that！　It'd　burn　its　own　lips　off！
　Beside　him　Lady　Ramkin　stood　with　her　mouth　open。　Behind　her；　the　little　caged　dragons　yammered　and　howled。
　The　great　beast　turned　in　the　air　and　swooped　over　the　rooftops。　The　flame　darted　out　again。　Below　it；　yellow　flames　sprang　up。　It　was　done　so　quietly　and　stylishly　that　it　took　Vimes　several　seconds　to　realise　that　several　buildings　had　in　fact　been　set　on　fire。
　〃Golly！〃　said　Lady　Ramkin。　〃Look！　It's　using　the　thermals！　That's　what　the　fire　is　for！〃　She　turned　to　Vimes；　her　eyes　hopelessly　aglow。　〃Do　you　realise　we're　very　probably　seeing　something　that　no　one　has　seen　for　centuries？''
　〃Yes；　it's　a　bloody　flying　alligator　setting　fire　to　my　city！〃　shouted　Vimes。
　She　wasn't　listening　to　him。　〃There　must　be　a　breeding　colony　somewhere；〃　she　said。　〃After　all　this　time！　Where　do　you　think　it　lives？〃
　Vimes　didn't　know。　But　he　swore　to　himself　that　he　would　find　out；　and　ask　it　some　very　serious　questions。
　〃One　egg；〃　breathed　the　breeder。　〃Just　let　me　get　my　hands　on　one　egg　。。。〃
　Vimes　stared　at　her　in　genuine　astonishment。　It　dawned　on　him　that　he　was　very　probably　a　flawed　character。
　Below　them；　another　building　exploded　into　flame。
　〃How　far　exactly；〃　he　said；　speaking　very　slowly　and　carefully；　as　to　a　child；　〃did　these　things　fly？〃
　〃They're　very　territorial　animals；〃　murmured　her　ladyship。　〃According　to　legend；　they。。。〃
　Vimes　realized　he　was　in　for　another　dose　of　dragon　lore。　〃Just　give　me　the　facts；　m'lady；〃　he　said　impatiently。
　〃Not　very　far；　really；〃　she　said；　slightly　taken　aback。
　〃Thank　you　very　much；　ma'am；　you've　been　very　helpful；〃　muttered　Vimes；　and　broke　into　a　run。
　Somewhere　in　the　city。　There　was　nothing　outside　for　miles　except　low　fields　and　swamp。　It　had　to　be　living　somewhere　in　the　city。
　His　sandals　flapped　on　the　cobbles　as　he　hurtled　down　the　streets。　Somewhere　in　the　city！　Which　was　totally　ridiculous；　of　course。　Totally　ridiculous　and　impossible。
　He　didn't　deserve　this。　Of　all　the　cities　in　all　the　world　it　could　have　flown　into；　he　thought；　it's　flown　into　mine　。　。　。
　　
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　By　the　time　he　reached　the　river　the　dragon　had　vanished。　But　a　pall　of　smoke　was　hanging　over　the　streets　and　several　human　bucket　chains　had　been　formed　to　pass　lumps　of　the　river　to　the　stricken　buildings。＇13＇　The　job　was　considerably　hampered　by　the　droves　of　people　streaming　out　of　the　streets；　carrying　their　possessions。　Most　of　the　city　was　wood　and　thatch；　and　they　weren't　taking　any　chances。
　In　fact　the　danger　was　surprisingly　small。　Mysteriously　small；　when　you　came　to　think　about　it。
　Vimes　had　surreptitiously　taken　to　carrying　a　notebook　these　days；　and　he　had　noted　the　damage　as　if　the　mere　act　of　writing　it　down　somehow　made　the　world　a　more　understandable　place。
　Itym：　Ae　Coache　House　（belonging　to　an　inoffensive　businessman；　who'd　seen　his　new　carriage　go　up　in　flames）。
　Itym：　Ae　smalle　vegettable　shoppe　（with　pin…point　accuracy）。
　Vimes　wondered　about　that。　He'd　bought　some　apples　in　there　once；　and　there　didn't　appear　to　be　anything　about　it　that　a　dragon　could　possibly　take　offence　at。
　Still；　very　considerate　of　the　dragon；　he　thought　as　he　made　his　way　to　the　Watch　House。　When　you　think　of　all　the　timber　yards；　hayricks；　thatched　roofs　and　oil　stores　it　could　have　hit　by　chance；　it's　managed　to　really　frighten　everyone　without　actually　harming　the　city。
　Rays　of　early　morning　sunlight　were　piercing　the　drifts　of　smoke　as　he　pushed　open　the　door。　This　was　home。　Not　the　bare　little　room　over　the　candlemaker's　shop　in　Wixon's　Alley；　where　he　slept；　but　this　nasty　brown　room　that　smelt　of　unswept　chimneys；　Sgt　Colon's　pipe；　Nobby's　mysterious　personal　problem　and；　latterly；　Carrot's　armour　polish。　It　was　almost　like　home。
　No　one　else　was　there。　He　wasn't　entirely　surprised。　He　clumped　up　to　his　office　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　whose　cushion　would　have　been　thrown　out　of　its　basket　in　disgust　by　an　incontinent　dog；　pulled　his　helmet　over　his　eyes；　and　tried　to　think。
　No　good　rushing　about。　The　dragon　had　vanished　in　all　the　smoke　and　confusion；　as　suddenly　as　it　had　e。　Time　for　rushing　about　soon　enough。　The　important　thing　was　working　out　where　to　rush　to　。。。
　He'd　been　right。　Wading　bird！　But　where　did　you　start　looking　for　a　bloody　great　dragon　in　a　city　of　a　million　people？
　He　was　aware　that　his　right　hand；　entirely　unbidden；　had　pulled　open　the　bottom　drawer；　and　three　of　his　fingers；　acting　on　sealed　orders　from　his　hindbrain；　had　lifted　out　a　bottle。　It　was　one　of　those　bottles　that　emptied　themselves。　Reason　told　him　that　sometimes　he　must　occasionally　start　one；　break　the　seal；　see　amber　liquid　glistening　all　the　way　up　to　the　neck。　It　was　just　that　he　couldn't　remember　the　sensation。　It　was　as　if　the　bottles　arrived　two…thirds　empty　。　。　。
　He　stared　at　the　label。　It　seemed　to　be　Jimkin　Bear…hugger's　Old　Selected　Dragon's　Blood　Whiskey。　Cheap　and　powerful；　you　could　light　fires　with　it；　you　could　clean　spoons。　You　didn't　have　to　drink　much　of　it　to　be　drunk；　which　was　just　as　well。
　It　was　Nobby　who　shook　him　awake　with　the　news　that　there　was　a　dragon　in　the　city；　and　also　that　Sgt　Colon　had　had　a　nasty　turn。　Vinies　sat　and　blinked　owlishly　while　the　words　washed　around　him。　Apparently　having　a　fire…breathing　lizard　focusing　interestedly　on　one's　nether　regions　from　a　distance　of　a　few　feet　can　upset　the　strongest　constitution。　An　experience　like　that　could　leave　a　lasting　mark　on　a　person。
　Vimes　was　still　digesting　this　when　Carrot　turned　up　with　the　Librarian　swinging　along　behind　him。
　〃Did　you　see　it？　Did　you　see　it？〃　he　said。
　〃We　all　saw　it；〃　said　Vimes。
　〃I　know　all　about　it！〃　said　Carrot　triumphantly。　〃Someone's　brought　it　here　with　magic。　Someone's　stolen　a　book　out　of　the　Library　and　guess　what　it's　called？〃
　〃Can't　even　begin　to；〃　said　Vimes　weakly。
　〃It's　called　The　Summoning　of　Dragons！〃
　〃Oook；〃　confirmed　the　Librarian。
　〃Oh？　What's　it　about？〃　said　Vimes。　The　Librarian　rolled　his　eyes。
　〃It's　about　how　to　summon　dragons。　By　magic！〃
　〃Oook。〃
　〃And　that's　illegal；　that　is！〃　said　Carrot　happily。　〃Releasing　Feral　Creatures　upon　the　Streets；　contrary　to　the　Wild　Animals　（Public。。。〃
　Vimes　groaned。　That　meant　wizards。　You　got　nothing　but　trouble　with　wizards。
　〃I　suppose；〃　he　said；　〃there　wouldn't　be　another　copy　of　this　book　around；　would　there？〃
　〃Oook。〃　The　Librarian　shook　his　head。
　〃And　you　wouldn't　happen　to　know　what's　in　it？〃　Vimes　sighed。
　〃What？　Oh。　Four　words；〃　he　said　wearily。　〃First　word。　Sounds　like。　Bend。　Bough？　Sow；　cow；　how　。　。　。　How。　Second　word。　Small　word。　The；　a；　to　。　。　。　To。　Yes；　understood；　but　I　meant　in　any　kind　of　detail？　No。　I　see。〃
　〃What're　we　going　to　do　now；　sir？〃　said　Carrot　anxiously。
　〃It's　out　there；〃　intoned　Nobby。　〃Gone　to　ground；　like；　during　the　hours　of　daylight。　Coiled　up　in　its　secret　lair；　on　top　of　a　great　hoard　of　gold；　dreamin'　ancient　reptilian　dreams　fromma　dawna　time；　waitin'　for　the　secret　curtains　of　the　night；　when　once　more　it　will　sally　forth。。。〃　He　hesitated　and　added　sullenly；　〃What're　you　all　looking　at　me　like　that　for？〃
　〃Very　poetic；〃　said　Carrot。
　〃Well；　everyone　knows　the　real　old　dragons　used　to　go　to　sleep　on　a　hoard　of　gold；''　said　Nobby。　'　'Well　known　folk　myth。〃
　Vimes　looked　blankly　into　the　immediate　future。　Vile　though　Nobby　was；　he　was　also　a　good　indication　of　what　was　going　through　the　mind　of　the　average　citizen。　You　could　use　him　as　a　sort　of　laboratory　rat　to　forecast　what　was　going　to　happen　next。
　〃I　expect　you'd　be　really　interested　in　finding　out　where　that　hoard　is；　wouldn't　you？〃　said　Vimes　experimentally。
　Nobby　looked　even　more　shifty　than　usual。　〃Well；　Cap'n；　I　was　thinking　of　having　a　bit　of　a　look　around。　You　know。　When　I'm　off　duty；　of　course；〃　he　added　virtuously。
　〃Oh；　dear；〃　said　Captain　Vimes。
　He　lifted　up　the　empty　bottle　and；　with　great　care；　put　it　back　in　the　drawer。
　　　
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　The　Elucidated　Brethren　were　nervous。　A　kind　of　fear　crackled　from　brother　to　brother。　It　was　the　fear　of　someone　who；　having　cheerfully　experimented　with　pouring　the　powder　and　wadding　the　ball；　has　found　that　pulling　the　trigger　had　led　to　a　godawful　bang　and　pretty　soon　someone　is　bound　to　e　and　see　who's　making　all　the　noise。
　The　Supreme　Grand　Master　knew　that　he　had　them；　though。　Sheep　and　lamb；　sheep　and　lamb。　Since　they　couldn't　do　anything　much　worse　than　they　had　already　done　they　might　as　well　press　on　and　damn　the　world；　and　pretend　they'd　wanted　it　like　this　all　along。　Oh；　the　joy　of　it　。。。
　Only　Brother　Plasterer　was　actually　happy。
　〃Let　that　be　a　lesson　to　all　oppressive　vegetable　sellers；〃　he　kept　saying。
　〃Yes；　er；〃　said　Brother　Doorkeeper。　〃Only；　the　thing　is；　there's　no　chance　of　us　sort　of　accidentally　summoning　the　dragon　here；　is　there？〃
　〃I…that　is；　we…have　it　under　perfect　control；〃　said　the　Supreme　Grand　Master　smoothly。　〃The　power　is　ours。　I　can　assure　you。〃
　The　Brothers　cheered　up　a　little　bit。
　〃And　now；〃　the　Supreme　Grand　Master　continued；　〃there　is　the　matter　of　the　king。〃
　The　Brothers　looked　solemn；　except　for　Brother　Plasterer。
　〃Have　we　found　him；　then？〃　he　said。　〃That's　a　stroke　of　luck。''
　〃You　never　listen；　do　you？〃　snapped　Brother　Watchtower。　〃It　was　all　explained　last　week；　we　don't　go　around　finding　anyone；　we　make　a　king。〃
　〃I　thought　he　was　supposed　to　turn　up。　'Cos　of　destiny。〃
　Brother　Watchtower　sniggered。　〃We　sort　of　help　Destiny　along　a　bit。〃
　The　Supreme　Grand　Master　smiled　in　the　depths　of　his　robe。　It　was　amazing；　this　mystic　business。　You　tell　them　a　lie；　and　then　when　you　don't　need　it　any　more　you　tell　them　another　lie　and　tell　them　they're　progressing　along　the　road　to　wisdom。　Then　instead　of　laughing　they　follow　you　even　more；　hoping　that　at　the　heart　of　all　the　lies　they'll　find　the　truth。　And　bit　by　bit　they　accept　the　unacceptable。　Amazing。
　〃Bloody　hell；　that's　clever；〃　said　Brother　Doorkeeper。　〃How　do　we　do　that；　then？〃
　〃Look；　the　Supreme　Grand　Master　said　what　we　do；　we　find　some　handsome　lad　who's　good　at　taking　orders；　he　kills　the　dragon；　and　Bob's　your　uncle。　Simple。　Much　more　intelligent　than　waitin'　for　a　so…called　real　king。〃