“There’s something I didn’t want to mention in front of her ladyship,” said Carrot as they hurried down to the Yard. “Er… Hitherto is dead, sir.”

“Who’s Hitherto?”

“Lance Constable Horace Hitherto, sir? Got walloped on the back of the head last night? When we were at that meeting? When there was that, er, ‘disturbance’? Got sent to the Free Hospital?”

“Oh, gods…” said Vimes. “It seems like a week ago. He’d only been with us a couple of months!”

“They said at the hospital his brain died, sir. I’m sure they did their best.”

Did we do ours? Vimes wondered. But it was a bloody melee, and the cobblestone came out of nowhere. Could have hit me, could have hit Carrot. Hit the kid, instead. What’ll I tell his parents? Killed in the line of duty? But his duty shouldn’t have been to stop one lot of idiot citizens murdering another lot of idiot citizens.

It’s all got out of hand. There aren’t enough of us. And now there’s a few less.

“I’ll go and see his mum and dad tomor—” he began, and sluggish memory shifted at last. “Does—didn’t he have a brother in the Watch?”

“Yessir,” said Carrot. “Lance Constable Hector Hitherto, sir. They joined together. He’s down at Chittling Street.”

“Then get hold of his sergeant and tell him Hector is not allowed on the street tonight, okay? I want him introduced to the joys of filing. In a cellar, if possible. And wearing a very thick helmet.”

“I understand, sir,” said Carrot.

“How’s Angua?”

“I think she’ll be fine after having a lie-down, sir. The mine really got to her.”

“I’m really, really sorry about that—” Sally began.

“Not your fault, lance constable…Sally,” said Vimes. “It was mine. I know about the vampire and werewolf thing, but I needed you both to be down there. It’s just one of those decisions, okay? I suggest you take the evening off. No, that’s an order. You’ve done very well on your first day. Off you go. Get your head down…or whatever.”

They watched her out of sight before continuing down the street.

“She is very good, sir,” said Carrot. “She picks things up fast.”

“Yes, very fast. I can see she’s going to be useful,” said Vimes thoughtfully. “Doesn’t that strike you as odd, Captain? Up she pops, just when we need her.”

“She has been here for a couple of months, though,” said Carrot. “And the League vouches for her.”

“A couple of months is about the same time as Hamcrusher’s been here, too,” said Vimes. “And if you wanted to find things out, we’re not a bad outfit to join. We’re official prodnoses.”

“Sir, you don’t think—”

“Oh, I’m sure she’s a Black Ribboner, but I don’t think a vampire comes all the way from Uberwald to play the cello. Still, as you say, she does a good job.” Vimes stared at nothing for a moment and then said thoughtfully: “Doesn’t one of our Specials work for the clacks company?”

“That’d be Andy Hancock, sir,” said Carrot.

“Oh gods. You mean Two Swords?”

“That’s him, sir. Very keen lad.”

“Yes, I saw the dockets. Normally a training dummy lasts for months, Captain. You’re not supposed to chop through three in half an hour!”

“He’ll be down at the Yard now, sir. Do you want a word with him?” said Carrot.

“No. You have a word with him.”

Vimes lowered his voice. So did Carrot. There was whispering. Then Carrot said: “Is that strictly legal, sir?”

“I don’t see why not. Let’s find out, shall we? We haven’t had this little conversation, Captain.”

“Understood, sir.”

Ye gods, it was so much better when there was just four of us up against that bloody great dragon, Vimes thought as they walked on. Of course, we nearly got burned alive a few times, but at least it wasn’t complicated. It was a damn great dragon. You could see it coming. It didn’t get political on you.

It had started to rain a fine, invasive rain by the time they arrived at Pseudopolis Yard. Vimes had, with extreme reluctance, to hand it to Carrot. He certainly could organize. The place was bustling. Wagonloads of yellow and black barricades were being trundled out of the Old Lemonade Factory. Watchmen were pouring in from every street.

“I really pushed the boat out on this one, sir,” said Carrot. “I thought it was important.”

“Well done, Captain,” said Vimes as they stood like islands in the flood. “But I think there is a little matter of forward planning you may have overlooked…”

“Really, sir? I thought I’ve covered everything,” said Carrot, looking puzzled.

Vimes slapped him on the back.

“Probably not this one,” he said. And added, but only to himself: Because you, Captain, are not a bastard.