They turned towards the fruit basket.
'He's very hot. And his skin looks all shiny.'
'What's the right temperature for a dragon?' said Colon.
'Yeah. How do you take it?' said Nobby.
'I think we ought to ask Lady Ramkin to have a look at him,' said Carrot. 'She knows about these things.'
'No, she'll be getting ready for the coronation. We shouldn't go disturbing her,' said Colon. He stretched out his hand to Errol's quivering flanks. 'I used to have a dog that — arrgh! That's not hot, that's boiling!'
'I've offered him lots of water and he just won't touch it. What are you doing with that kettle, Nobby?'
Nobby looked innocent. 'Well, I thought we might as well make a cup of tea before we go out. It's a shame to waste…'
'Take it off him!'
Noon came. The fog didn't lift but it did thin a bit, to allow a pale yellow haze where the sun should have been.
Although the passage of years had turned the post of Captain of the Watch into something rather shabby, it still meant that Vimes was entitled to a seat at official occasions. The pecking order had moved it, though, so that now he was in the lowest tier on the rickety bleachers between the Master of the Fellowship of Beggars and the head of the Teachers' Guild. He didn't mind that. Anything was better than the top row, among the Assassins, Thieves, Merchants and all the other things that had floated to the top of society. He never knew what to talk about. Anyway, the teacher was restful company since he didn't do much but clench and unclench his hands occasionally, and whimper.
'Something wrong with your neck, Captain?' said the chief beggar politely, as they waited for the coaches.
Вы читаете Guards! Guards!
