The fog, as if in acknowledgement, lit up. Ahead of them it blossomed like a chrysanthemum and made a noise like 'whoomph'.
'Oh, no,' moaned Vimes. 'Not again!'
Like a pea-souper, only much thicker, fishier, and with things in it you'd probably rather not know about.
'Are the Cups of Integrity well and truly suffused?' intoned Brother Watchtower.
'Aye, suffused full well.'
'The Waters of the World, are they Abjured?'
'Yea, abjured full mightily.'
'Have the Demons of Infinity been bound with many chains?'
'Damn,' said Brother Plasterer, 'there's always something.'
Brother Watchtower sagged. 'Just once it would be nice if we could get the ancient and timeless rituals right, wouldn't it. You'd better get on with it.'
'Wouldn't it be quicker, Brother Watchtower, if I just did it twice next time?' said Brother Plasterer.
Brother Watchtower gave this some grudging consideration. It seemed reasonable.
'All right,' he said. 'Now get back down there with the others. And you should call me Acting Supreme Grand Master, understand?'
This did not meet with what he considered to be a proper and dignified reception among the brethren.
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