Snuff
have been privileged recently to find a musician beyond compare, and without more ado I will let you into this wonderful secret. Can we have the house lights down, Jeffrey? Good. Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be able to present to you tonight Tears of the Mushroom playing her own composition, The Twilight Serenade . I hope you will like it, and, in fact, I know that you will.â
Lady Sybil stepped back as the curtains dragged themselves aside, and took a chair next to Tears of the Mushroom, who was seated obediently at her concert harp.
Beneath the seemingly impregnable composure, Sybilâs heart was bouncing like a flamenco dancer. A low lightâthat had been the thing. The girl shouldnât be able to see the thousands out there. Sybil had taken her in hand, fearful that sudden exposure to the massed gaze of Ankh-Morpork, far from her home, would have some terrible effect, but in fact it wasnât working like that. The girl had a curious tranquillity, as if she hadnât realized that she should be in awe. She smiled at Sybil in her strange way and waited, with fingers poised, over the strings. There was no sound but the susurration of people asking one another what the intense little figure they were seeing really was. Lady Sybil smiled to herself. By the time they realized, it would be too late. She looked at her watch.
T he flames were so high over the Ramkin Estate that the blaze could surely be seen all the way to Ankh-Morpork (bet you a gallon of brandy and a brace of turbot). There was barely any wind and it stood there like a beacon.
Vimes announced to the gathered throng, âLadies and gentlemen, the area known as the Shires is under the rule of law tonight, and by that I mean the proper law, the law that is written down for everybody to see, and even to be changed if enough people agree. Chief Constable Upshot and Constable Jefferson are currently acting with the backing of their colleagues in the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, who would like to be assured that their colleagues receive the respect that is due. At this moment, a number of people from the Shires are being courteously brought here, although possibly to their dismay. Some of them will be the people who call themselves your magistrates and they will be taken away and asked to explain to a lawyer by what right they have assumed that position. If any one of you wants to argue with me, please come on and do so. The law is there for the people, rather than the other way round. When it is the other way round donât hesitate to grab your weapons, understand? The bar is still free, BUT BEFORE YOU STAMPEDE, THERE IS ONE MORE THING!â
Vimes had to put the megaphone back to his mouth because the mention of âbarâ and âfreeâ in one breath has an invigorating effect on people. âRight now, ladies and gentlemen, the goblins on Hangmanâs Hill, and indeed all other goblins in this area, are under my protection and the protection of the law. They are also subject to it, and Iâll see to it that they have their own police force. It appears that they make natural clacks operators, so if they wish they can derive a revenue from so doing. Iâm paying to have that clacks tower made permanent. You will benefit from it and so will they! They wonât need to steal your chickens because theyâll buy them from you, and if they do pinch them, then thatâs a crime and will be treated as such. One law, ladies and gentlemenâ¦One size fits all!â
There was a cheer at this, as loud as any cheer in the vicinity of the prospect of a free bar can be. Of course, some of it might have been cheer at the fact that there was now some justice in the world, but on the whole it was quite likely that the bar won the day. You didnât have to be a cynic, you just had to understand people.
Vimes walked slowly toward the brightly lit pub, although the chances of getting inside were small. On the other hand, the chances of being given a hug by Miss Felicity Beedle were exactly one hundred per cent, because that was what she was doing, while being watched sheepishly by the blacksmith.
Vimes let go of her hand as she said, âYou are a great man, commander, and I hope they put up a statue to you!â
âOh dear, I hope not! You only get a statue when youâre dead!â
She laughed, but Vimes said, âListen, Miss Beedle, right now I donât know if Iâm facing a statue or
Weitere Kostenlose Bücher