It was a little disappointing. He'd expected high white towers rearing over the landscape, and flags. Ankh-Morpork didn't rear. Rather, it sort of skulked, clinging to the soil as if afraid someone might steal it. There were no flags.
There was a guard on the gate. At least, he was wearing chain mail and the thing he was propped up against was a spear. He had to be a guard.
Carrot saluted him and presented the letter. The man looked at it for some time.
'Mm?' he said, eventually.
'I think I've got to see Lupin Squiggle Sec'y pp, ' said Carrot.
'What's the pp for?' said the guard suspiciously.
'Could it be Pretty Promptly?' said Carrot, who had wondered about this himself.
'Well, I don't know about any Sec'y, ' said the guard. 'You want Captain Vimes of the Night Watch. '
' 'And where is he based?'' said Carrot, politely.
'At this time of day I'd try The Bunch of Grapes in Easy Street, ' said the guard. He looked Carrot up and down. 'Joining the watch, are you?'
'I hope to prove worthy, yes, ' said Carrot.
The guard gave him what could loosely be called an old-fashioned look. It was practically neolithic.
'What was it you done?' he said.
'I'm sorry?' said Carrot.
'You must of done something, ' said the guard.
'My father wrote a letter, ' said Carrot proudly. 'I've been volunteered. '
'Bloody hellfire, ' said the guard.
Now it was night again, and beyond the dread portal:
'Are the Wheels of Torment duly spun?' said the Supreme Grand Master.
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