It wasn't the words which made up Vimes's mind. It was the way the other man sniggered.
'Stand aside,' he said.
The guard leaned down. 'Who's going to make me,' he rapped on Vimes's helmet, 'copper?'
There are times when it is a veritable pleasure to drop the bomb right away.
'Lance-constable Carrot, I want you to charge these men,' said Vimes.
Carrot saluted. 'Very good, sir,' he said, and turned and trotted smartly back the way they had come.
'Hey!' shouted Vimes, as the boy disappeared around a corner.
'That's what I like to see,' said the first guard, leaning on his speak. 'That's a young man with initiative, that young man. A bright lad. He doesn't want to stop along here and have his ears twisted off. That's a young man who's going to go a long way, if he's got any sense.'
'Very sensible,' said the other guard.
He leaned the spear against the wall.
'You Watch men make me want to throw up,' he said conversationally. 'Pouncing around all the time, never doing a proper job of work. Throwing your weight about as if you counted for something. So me and Clarence are going to show you what real guarding is all about, isn't that right?'
I could just about manage one of them, Vimes thought as he took a few steps backward. If he was facing the other way, at least.
Clarence propped his spear against the gateway and spat on his hands.
Вы читаете Guards! Guards!
