It climbed in a wide spiral, gathering speed as it did so. Errol went with it, orbiting the huge body like a tug around a liner.
'It's-it's as though he's fussing over it,' said Vimes.
'Add up the bastard!' shouted Nobby enthusiastically.
'Total, Nobby,' said Colon. 'You mean 'total'.'
Vimes felt Lady Ramkin's gaze on the back of his neck. He looked at her expression.
Realization dawned. 'Oh,' he said.
Lady Ramkin nodded.
'Really?' said Vimes.
'Yes,' she said. 'I really ought to have thought of it before. It was such a hot flame, of course. And they're always so much more territorial than the males.'
'Why don't you fight the bastard!' shouted Nobby, at the dwindling dragons.
'Bitch, Nobby,' said Vimes quietly. 'Not bastard. Bitch.'
'Why don't you fi…— what?!'
'It's a member of the female gender,' explained Lady Ramkin.
'What?'
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