tp.guards!guards!-第34部分

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　〃I　don't　know　what　we　saw！〃　said　Vimes；　〃But　I　know　what　I　saw！''
　He　leaned　back；　shaking。　He　was　suddenly　feeling　extremely　tired。
　〃Anyway；〃　he　said；　in　a　more　normal　voice；　〃it's　flamed　a　house　in　Bitwash　Street。　Just　like　the　other　ones。〃
　〃Any　of　them　get　out？〃
　Vimes　put　his　head　in　his　hands。　He　wondered　how　long　it　was　since　he'd　last　had　any　sleep；　proper　sleep；　the　sort　with　sheets。　Or　food；　e　to　that。　Was　it　last　night；　or　the　night　before？　Had　he　ever；　e　to　think　of　it；　ever　slept　at　all　in　all　his　life？　It　didn't　seem　like　it。　The　arms　of　Morpheus　had　rolled　up　their　sleeves　and　were　giving　the　back　of　his　brain　a　right　pummelling；　but　bits　were　fighting　back。　Any　of　them　get。　。　。　？
　〃Any　of　who？〃　he　said。
　〃The　people　in　the　house；　of　course；〃　said　Wonse。　〃I　assume　there　were　people　in　it。　At　night；　I　mean。〃
　〃Oh？　Oh。　Yes。　It　wasn't　like　a　normal　house。　I　think　it　was　some　sort　of　secret　society　thing；〃　Vimes　managed。　Something　was　clicking　in　his　mind；　but　he　was　too　tired　to　examine　it。
　〃Magic；　you　mean？〃
　〃Dunno；〃　said　Vimes。　〃Could　be。　Guys　in　robes。〃
　He's　going　to　tell　me　I've　been　overdoing　it；　he　said。　He'll　be　right；　too。
　〃Look；〃　said　Wonse；　kindly。　〃People　who　mess　around　with　magic　and　don't　know　how　to　control　it；　well；　they　can　blow　themselves　up　and。。。〃
　〃Blow　themselves　up？〃
　〃And　you've　had　a　busy　few　days；〃　said　Wonse　soothingly。　〃If　I'd　been　knocked　down　and　almost　burned　alive　by　a　dragon　I　expect　I'd　be　seeing　them　all　the　time。〃
　Vimes　stared　at　him　with　his　mouth　open。　He　couldn't　think　of　anything　to　say。　Whatever　stretched　and　knotted　elastic　had　been　driving　him　along　these　last　few　days　had　gone　entirely　limp。
　〃You　don't　think　you've　been　overdoing　it；　do　you？〃　said　Wonse。
　Ah；　thought　Vimes。　Jolly　good。
　He　slumped　forward。
　。。。
　　
　The　Librarian　leaned　cautiously　over　the　top　of　the　bookcase　and　unfolded　an　arm　into　the　darkness。
　There　it　was。
　His　thick　fingernails　grasped　the　spine　of　the　book；　pulled　it　gently　from　its　shelf　and　hoisted　it　up。　He　raised　the　lantern　carefully。
　No　doubt　about　it。　The　Summoning　of　Dragons。　Single　copy；　first　edition；　slightly　foxed　and　extremely　dragoned。
　He　set　the　lamp　down　beside　him；　and　began　to　read　the　first　page。
　　
　。。。
　　
　〃Mmm？〃　said　Vimes；　waking　up。
　〃Brung　you　a　nice　cup　of　tea；　Cap'n；〃　said　Sergeant　Colon。　〃And　a　figgin。'
　Vimes　looked　at　him　blankly。
　〃You've　been　asleep；〃　said　Sergeant　Colon　helpfully。　〃You　was　spark　out　when　Carrot　brought　you　back。〃
　Vimes　looked　around　at　the　now…familiar　surroundings　of　the　Yard。　〃Oh；〃　he　said。
　〃Me　and　Nobby　have　been　doing　some　detectoring；〃　said　Colon。　〃You　know　that　house　that　got　melted？　Well；　no　one　lives　there。　It's　just　rooms　that　get　hired　out。　So　we　found　out　who　hires　them。　There's　a　caretaker　who　goes　along　every　night　to　put　the　chairs　away　and　lock　up。　He　wasn't　half　creating　about　it　being　burned　down。　You　know　what　caretakers　are　like。〃
　He　stood　back；　waiting　for　the　applause。
　〃Well　done；〃　said　Vimes　dutifully；　dunking　the　figgin　into　the　tea。
　〃There's　three　societies　use　it；〃　said　Colon。　He　extracted　his　notebook。　〃To　wit；　viz；　The　Ankh…Morpork　Fine　Art　Appreciation　Society；　hem　hem；　the　Morpork　Folk…Dance　and　Song　Club；　and　the　Elucidated　Brethren　of　the　Ebon　Night。〃
　〃Why　hem　hem？〃　said　Vimes。
　〃Well；　you　know。　Fine　Art。　It's　just　men　paintin'　pictures　of　young　wimmin　in　the　nudd。　The　altogether；〃　explained　Colon　the　connoisseur。　〃The　caretaker　told　me。　Some　of　them　don't　even　have　any　paint　on　their　brushes；　you　know。　Shameful。〃
　There　must　be　a　million　stories　in　the　naked　city；　thought　Vimes。　So　why　do　I　always　have　to　listen　to　ones　like　these？
　〃When　do　they　meet？〃　he　said。
　〃Mondays；　7。30；　admission　ten　pence；〃　said　Colon；　promptly。　〃As　for　the　folk…dance　people…well；　no　problem　there。　You　know　you　always　wondered　what　Corporal　Nobbs　does　on　his　evenings　off？〃
　Colon's　face　split　into　a　watermelon　grin。
　〃No！〃　said　Vimes　incredulously。　〃Not　Nobby？〃
　〃Yep！〃　said　Colon；　delighted　at　the　result。
　〃What；　jumping　about　with　bells　on　and　waving　his　hanky　in　the　air？〃
　〃He　says　it　is　important　to　preserve　old　folkways；〃　said　Colon。
　〃Nobby？　Mr　Steel…toecaps…in…the…groin；　I…was…just…checking…the…doorhandle…and…it…opened…all…by…itself　？''
　〃Yeah！　Funny　old　world；　ain't　it？　He　was　very　bashful　about　it。〃
　〃Good　grief；〃　said　Vimes。
　〃It　just　goes　to　show；　you　never　can　tell；〃　said　Colon。　〃Anyway；　the　caretaker　said　the　Elucidated　Brethren　always　leave　the　place　in　a　mess。　Scuffed　chalk　marks　on　the　floor；　he　said。　And　they　never　put　the　chairs　back　properly　or　wash　out　the　tea　urn。　They've　been　meeting　a　lot　lately；　he　said。　The　nuddy　wimmin　painters　had　to　meet　somewhere　else　last　week。〃
　〃What　did　you　do　with　our　suspect？〃　said　Vimes。
　〃Him？　Oh；　he　done　a　runner；　Captain；〃　said　the　sergeant；　looking　embarrassed。
　〃Why？　He　didn't　look　in　any　shape　to　run　anywhere。〃
　〃Well；　when　we　got　back　here；　we　sat　him　down　by　the　fire　and　wrapped　him　up　because　he　kept　on　shivering；〃　said　Sergeant　Colon；　as　Vimes　buckled　his　armour　on。
　〃I　hope　you　didn't　eat　his　pizzas。〃
　〃Errol　et　'em。　It's　the　cheese；　see；　it　goes　all。。。〃
　〃Goon。〃
　〃Well；〃　said　Colon　awkwardly；　〃he　kept　on　shivering；　sort　of　thing；　and　groaning　on　about　dragons　and　that。　We　felt　sorry　for　him；　to　tell　the　truth。　And　then　he　jumps　up　and　runs　out　of　the　door　for　no　reason　at　all。〃
　Vimes　glanced　at　the　sergeant's　big；　open；　dishonest　face。
　〃No　reason？〃　he　prompted。
　〃Well；　we　decided　to　have　a　bite；　so　I　sent　Nobby　out　to　the　baker's；　see；　and；　well；　we　thought　the　prisoner　ought　to　have　something　to　eat　。　。　。〃
　〃Yes？〃　said　Vimes　encouragingly。
　〃Well；　when　Nobby　asked　him　if　he　wanted　his　figgin　toasted；　he　just　give　a　scream　and　ran　off。〃
　〃Just　that？〃　said　Vimes。　〃You　didn't　threaten　him　in　any　way？〃
　〃Straight　up；　Captain。　Bit　of　a　mystery；　if　you　ask　me。　He　kept　going　on　about　someone　called　Supreme　Grand　Master。〃
　〃Hmm。〃　Vimes　glanced　out　of　the　window。　Grey　fog　lagged　the　world　with　dim　light。　〃What　time　is　it？〃　he　said。
　〃Five　of　the　clock；　sir。〃
　〃Right。　Well；　before　it　gets　dark。。。〃
　Colon　gave　a　cough。　〃In　the　morning；　sir。　This　is　tomorrow；　sir。〃
　〃You　let　me　sleep　all　day？〃
　〃Didn't　have　the　heart　to　wake　you　up；　sir。　No　dragon　activity；　if　that's　what　you're　thinking。　Dead　quiet　all　round；　in　fact。〃
　Vimes　glared　at　him　and　threw　the　window　open。
　The　fog　rolled　in；　in　a　slow；　yellow…edged　waterfall。
　〃We　reckon　it　must　of　flown　away；〃　said　Colon's　voice；　behind　him。
　Vimes　stared　up　into　the　heavy；　rolling　clouds。
　〃Hope　it　clears　up　for　the　coronation；〃　Colon　went　on；　in　a　worried　voice。　〃You　all　right；　sir？〃
　It　hasn't　flown　away；　Vimes　thought。　Why　should　it　fly　away？　We　can't　hurt　it；　and　it's　got　everything　it　wants　right　here。　It's　up　there　somewhere。
　〃You　all　right；　sir？〃　Colon　repeated。
　It's　got　to　be　up　high　somewhere；　in　the　fog。　There's　all　kinds　of　towers　and　things。
　〃What　time's　the　coronation；　Sergeant？〃　he　said。
　〃Noon；　sir。　And　Mr　Wonse　has　sent　a　message　about　how　you're　to　be　in　your　best　armour　among　all　the　civic　leaders；　sir。〃
　〃Oh；　has　he？〃
　〃And　Sergeant　Hummock　and　the　day　squad　will　be　lining　the　route；　sir。〃
　〃What　with？〃　said　Vimes　vaguely；　watching　the　skies。
　〃Sorry；　sir？〃
　Vimes　squinted　upwards　to　get　a　better　view　of　the　roof。　〃Hmm？〃　he　said。
　〃I　said　they'll　be　lining　the　route；　sir；〃　said　Sergeant　Colon。
　〃It's　up　there；　Sergeant；〃　said　Vimes。　〃I　can　practically　smell　it。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Colon　obediently。
　〃It's　deciding　what　to　do　next。〃
　〃Yes；　sir？〃
　〃They're　not　unintelligent；　you　know。　They　just　don't　think　like　us。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃So　be　damned　to　any　lining　of　the　route。　I　want　you　three　up　on　roofs；　understand？〃
　〃Yes；　si　…　what？〃
　〃Up　on　the　roofs。　Up　high。　When　it　makes　its　move；　I　want　us　to　be　the　first　to　know。〃
　Colon　tried　to　indicate　by　his　expression　that　he　didn't。
　〃Do　you　think　that's　a　good　idea；　sir？〃　he　ventured。
　Vimes　gave　him　a　blank　look。　〃Yes；　Sergeant；　I　do。　It　was　one　of　mine；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃Now　go　and　see　toil。〃
　When　he　was　left　to　himself　Vimes　washed　and　shaved　in　cold　water；　and　then　rummaged　in　his　campaign　chest　until　he　unearthed　his　ceremonial　breastplate　and　red　cloak。　Well；　the　cloak　had　been　red　once；　and　still　was；　here　and　there；　although　most　of　it　resembled　a　small　net　used　very　successfully　for　catching　moths。　There　was　also　a　helmet；　defiantly　without　plumes；　from　which　the　molecule…thick　gold　leaf　had　long　ago　peeled。
　He'd　started　saving　up　for　a　new　cloak；　once。　Whatever　had　happened　to　the　money？
　There　was　no　one　in　the　guardroom。　Errol　lay　in　the　wreckage　of　the　fourth　fruit　box　Nobby　had　scrounged　for　him。　The　rest　had　all　been　eaten；　or　had　dissolved。
　In　the　warm　silence　the　everlasting　rumbling　of　his　stomach　sounded　especially　loud。　Occasionally　he　whimpered。
　〃What's　up　with　you；　boy？〃　he　said。
　The　door　creaked　open。　Carrot　came　in；　saw　Vimes　hunkered　down　by　the　ravaged　box；　and　saluted。
　〃We're　a　bit　worried　about　him；　Captain；〃　he　volunteered。　〃He　hasn't　eaten　his　coal。　Just　lies　there　twitching　and　whining　all　the　time。　You　don't　think　something's　wrong　with　him；　do　you？〃
　〃Possibly；〃　said　Vimes。　〃But　having　something　wrong　with　them　is　quite　normal　for　a　dragon。　They　always　get　over　it。　One　way　or　another。〃
　Errol　gave　him　a　mournful　look　and　closed　his　eyes　again。　Vimes　pulled　his　scrap　of　blanket　over　him。
　There　was　a　squeak。　He　fished　around　beside　the　dragon's　shivering　body；　pulled　out　a　small　rubber　hippo；　stared　at　it　in　surprise　and　then　gave　it　one　or　two　experimental　squeezes。
　〃I　thought　it　would　be　something　for　him　to　play　with；〃　said　Carrot；　slightly　shamefaced。
　〃You　bought　him　a　little　toy？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃What　a　kind　thought。〃
　Vimes　hoped　Carrot　hadn't　noticed　the　fluffy　ball　tucked　into　the　back　of　the　box。　It　had　been　quite　expensive。
　He　left　the　two　of　them　and　stepped　into　the　outside　world。
　There　was　even　more　bunting　now。　People　were　beginning　to　line　the　main　streets；　even　though　there　were　hours　to　wait。　It　was　still　very　depressing。
　He　felt　an　appeti