The Choice

Part Two

Captain Carrot's last wish was to see Nobby at his home. He liked the little gnome, it was obvious, he was one of his friends he could rely if anything happens, he could even baby-sit the boys when he was on duty, but that was too much. No one likes to see a small figure at his kitchen window, jumping to glimpse what is going on inside. Carrot had a long talk with his mates in the Watch some weeks after Angua's death; he made them clear that the guards etc. were not welcome anymore. He had bad moments before his milestone speech, he knew most of them would understand and go away pleasantly, but people like Nobby, Collon and Cheery wouldn't. They thought there was something more than work between them all, there was a friendship involved, although Carrot had a strange perception for this term, having too many individuals he kept close enough to classify as such.

Collon was a wise man, although he was a sergeant. He knew Carrot since his first day in the Watch, when the city was in its golden sleepy years. There was much common between them, although they were too different in all kind of aspects.

Cheery was the first dwarf constable, she was Carrot's protégée, his right hand; nevertheless none of them both would admit it. She related closely to him and Angua, thinking their marriage would never contract without her momentary interference. She had the right, Carrot would never ask the question and Angua would never accept if she did not day her words. Talking their fears away was not easy, especially Angua's, she was too frightened to recognize herself as future Mrs. Ironfaunderson, because she had some very forceful points, one of them was related with the kids, if there would be any. Cheery took their marriage as her own success. What happened next broke her apart almost the same as Carrot. She thought she had a bounded duty to Thomas and Hedrick, she could never leave the boys alone, and she visited them every day before and after her shift, despite of Carrot's protests. She had the right to be there and Carrot knew it. She was a friend, his confidante for years; she was his family long after he left Mine number Seven.

Nobby was the last of the Holly Trinity, as he called them, who Carrot thought would never draw aside easily. He was there because he was… nowhere else. Being in Carrot's yard was as common as the sun in the sky. Captain asked himself often, why. Some of the answers coming to his head were too opposing. Beginning with his eternal wish to be everywhere, jumping at anyone's face anytime, showing off his pimples as a freak show… Moreover, his hidden desire to be where he was not that outcast, poor fellow Nobby, the grown boy with no social life, starving for a little sparkle of love…

'Good day, chief' greeted Nobby, saluted anyhow, and stepped through the half-open door into the house. Carrot knit his eyebrows and exhaled loudly. 'How's hangin'?'

Carrot passed after him, trying to catch his steps to children's room. He was too slow, obviously, because when he went to the nursery, Nobby already drooped over the infants, handing them a plastic cockchafer. Carrot tired to take it away, but there were fewer things you could drag from Hedrick's hold. The boys giggled. Carrot stared at the little man nervously.

'What are you doing here, Nobby? I recall I told you not to…'

'Mr. Vimes asked for you, Captain. I thought you would be puzzled whom to leave the boys, so I said to myself 'Nobby, now is time to help the lad Carrot, you are damn good baby-sitter, go there and…'

'I have a baby-sitter, Nobby!'

'Oh, that spinster Carlotta, Her Ladyship's protégée, that sticky peace of female rat, that gorgeous babe, oh, she would not come anyway.'

'Why do you think so?' Carrot's wide-open stare made its path to Nobby's playful eyes. 'Couse she went out the Hub Gate this mornin', lad. Corporal Stubbs saw her at the end of his shift, this is what he said on the meeting an hour ago. That's why.'

Carrot bit his lips, looked at the cradle, then to Nobby, to the door, to Nobby and the cradle again. He sighed deep and sat in the chair nearby. The boys played with the interesting toy, gurgling and screaming, small hands and feet flied in the air. He put his hands over his face, exhaling with difficult. Soon he stood up and tidied his breastplate's straps a little, gazing at Nobby with a rage look.

'Do be careful, Nobby, I will be back in hour or two, I want to see them here where I let them, no walks in the park, no baby parties, no folk dances, no culinary art launch, and no air throws as the last time. I still cannot make the boys go to sleep without those… experiments. Do you understand, Nobby? No anything!'

Carrot's nose jabbed Nobby's deeply, if there would be more space his nose would go through his nape. The little man nodded, Carrot's stare made him nod again, this time with less excitement.

Captain lifted up from his position and looked at the babies. Their eyes followed his stare, lifting their little fingers to catch his shadow falling over their common bed. His frightened smile fixed at them for a second, then he moved back, dragging Nobby's collar to the gateway.

'When I come back, and Nobby, I will definitely come back sooner than you think, I will be very unhappy if I see the house messy. Do me a favour, old friend, don't do anything you would not like to clear or repair later.'

'Don't worry, Captain, I'm your man. Now go, go, Mr. Vimes is waiting. Don't you stay there, move. He said he would be at Vetinari's office.'

'Why there?'

'How could I know? You know Old Stoneface. It's never easy to catch his mind.'

Carrot looked at Nobby's face once again. He knit his eyebrows; Nobby bit his lips and slammed the door at his face with a genuine smile.

---

Anne Frisky walked down the street. It was her first month in Ankh-Morpork, the city that never sleeps. She knew that well enough; her first job when she arrived, was to find Dr. Sloan's surgery, preparing for her obligations as an educated nurse. Since her graduation at The Quirm's Nurse Academy, she had to do her job for first time. Her father agreed she needed a professional education, but working in a hospital, with all those sick people… No way, nada, basta, gurly, don't even think so. Her place was by the kitchen's oven, serving her brothers and who knows, her future husband. She was a Frisky, Prudence Town's mayor's only daughter, she had to be an example for all of the female citizens, their mother-protectress, their shepherdess, their everything. Since Mrs. Frisky went to heaven, Anne's life turned into hell. She was well known as a good girl, a good wife afterwards, and a good widow subsequently. What she hated most was her father's desire to turn her into what she was not. Yes, she was the mayor's daughter, but she would never be The Mayor's Daughter.

Prudence was a grate place for living, it was too small to have any ambitions, but its biggest advantage was its position. It was situated in the beautiful Quirm valley, the still (!!!) clear waters of Ankh made their path through it, and mostly, it was not far from Quirm… That closeness played its crucial role. When the Yellow flake took over the city, it was not hard to break into Prudence. In a month it took hundreds valuable lives, including her family's. In a week, she turned into an orphan and a widow with no one by her side. What made her live, she often asked this question, burying her face in the pillow. It was not fair. She had to burry the rest of her kin in the Prudence graveyard and to wake up soon. The town needed her help. She was a decent, skilful woman with cold-blooded intellect; she had to do her duty to the town. She put her hands to the work. The Prudence public health station had to open again.

When she met Dr. Loan for first time, he had no time to introduce himself properly, there were hundreds to be cured, watched, injected and eyes closed. When everything ended, the Town of Prudence did not exist anymore. Not the way it did before. Those five hundred people surviving the death, were not enough to make Prudence live again. Dr. Loan was a good man, he knew Anne have nowhere to go, she was all alone, a good twenty and some years old girl with no life in her dark blue eyes. He offered her a job. She was a skilful nurse after all. She accepted it.

Anne had to return to the Dolls. Her new home was a small room at the second floor of Mrs. Verger's boarding house. She had to return before midnight, the landlady had precise instructions. Disobeying them would be an act of breaking the rules. She followed her own road, lost in her thoughts. When she leaved Dr. Loan's clinic, it was only ten. She still had time.

She stepped slowly at Filigree street. There was a noise coming nearby. She turned her attention to a small building, buried in the pavement. It was dark, peeled and as dirty as any other building on the same street. The façade had too many colours; none of them could say anything about the recent paint. There was a label on it. 'The Drum' must have been some pub, because there were also two glasses on the label, well, quite erased by the time and the weather conditions through those centuries it was hanging here. Anne thought for a moment and moved down the stairs. The door opened before she pressed the handle. A large vampire stared her face. He stood up for a second, observing her precisely. Then he moved aside, his eyes watered with interest. He knew who was facing him.

'Good evening, Miss Frisky.' He bowed at her. She smiled in reply.

'Good evening, Mr. Ashtonberger. How is your ear?'

The vampire touched the side behind his cheek and blinked nervously: 'It is fine, thank you. I would like to thank you again for you help, Miss Frisky. Thanks heaven you were there when those stupid peasants…'

'I am often told this, Mr. Ashtonberger, believe me.' She bent closer and whispered: 'If I were you I would not parade with my red ribbon in public. You know people, they don't like when someone that could kill them in a second bite drinks in their presence.'

'I will follow your advice, madam, I will definitely. I just need to go out sometimes and mess with the rest of the world…'

'Do it, no one will ever stop you, but…' she bent nearer, just by his ear. '…do it carefully, Mr. Ashtonberger.'

The vampire stepped back. No one living creature would do any actions so close to his… uhum… teeth, without giving himself a long thought. One of Them, he thought. She must be One of Them. One of the… Hidden. Although he did not smell and feel anything, he still had his head on, and still tied up with his piteous life. If she was not one of Them, she would never… They passed each other; the vampire shimmered and run up from her sight. Anne smiled. So, it was true, the vampires were really easy to scare. Her father was right.

The premises of 'The Drum' were wide and dark. When she entered, she heard only the silence. Everyone was looking at her. She was a woman, a young woman; she was alone, here, in the darkness. By herself. Poor lamb, gathered with wolves… Her stare made someone change his plans, moving to the door and exiting in the evening air. It was much better. Even the Shades were a better place than being in a room with a little harmless woman. The LHW factor was well known in the city. No one knows what LHW would do.

The bartender smiled nervously, put a serviette at the board. That was the international pub 'Welcome'. Anne sat at the high stool. 'What will it be, gorgeous?' asked the bartender, mopping the next spotty glass. She gazed at the bottles behind the bar, counting and thinking over. She was in a bar. An Ankh-Morpork bar. What people do here? Drink. What do they mostly drink? She turned to see what was going around her. 'Bear, please' answered Anne. The mug appeared in a second. She observed it for a minute, then lifted and swallowed a huge swig. 'What are you here for, gorgeous?' asked the bartender. He graduated the Bartender's university in Pseudopolis with honours. The woman lifted her shoulders. 'Why do people come to a pub, my friend?' The man smiled in a brief. 'Because they are lonely, they have no job, they have no life or just want a pint of beer, I guess.' She smiled back. He watched her for long. She was still with her white overall. 'Who are you from?' The bartender gazed at her. She smiled again. 'I guess I just want a beer.' 'Ah, yes, beer.'

The man looked at the room. Everyone stared at his or her glasses. Soon the noise was back. Anne observed the customers with interest. There were a couple of trolls sitting on the table nearby; a group of bakers drank in the corner and a tall red-haired lad in a guardian uniform at the very end of the room drank a cup of milk. He was pale, silent, his look was sad. He had the most wistful eyes Anne had ever seen. She observed him much longer than it needed. He returned with a sad smile and burst his eyes back into his drink.

The bartender watched her with interest, she turned to see his smiling face, then he made his biggest mistake – he winked at her. She slapped his face. 'What was it for?' asked the man, lifting himself from the floor.

Anne put some coins on the board and prepared to jump from the high stool. 'Because you looked at me in dirty way' she answered.

'I did not!' the man jumped after her, caught her at the door and bowed nervously. 'I do apologise, Madam. I didn't want to harm you or offend you, or whatever, I just have this look since I was born.'

She turned to him and smiled slightly, pressing the door handle. 'Good! I thought it also.'

'But… why?' screamed the bartender while she was exiting. She laughed gently and put her hand over his arm. 'You are a morporkian, I am not. You are a man, I am not. My father used to say: 'To make people respect you, you have to do a slightly stupid, but unexpected act.' He also told me if I ever go to Ankh-Morpork to slap the first bartender in his face for that awful beer he drank while being here in his youth. I apologise for this, but I had to do my bounded duty to my late parent.'

She went out, giggling, bartender following with his mouth wide-open. He stared at her move for a while, then he burst into laughter, lifted his hand and yelled: 'We are full time open, do not pass by without coming to say Hallo… or slap me again.' He walked into the bar, still laughing, his eyes watered. He almost shoved the steel breastplate of the man exiting.

'Oh, hallo, Mr. Carrot. Good evening, Mr. Carrot.'

The man said nothing, his eyes did the reply.

---

'Such unpleasant, dear. Miss Carlotta didn't even say Goodbye! We have to do something!' Lady Sybil moved up from her chair to set her husband's napkin in his collar. Samuel Vimes turned off his ears, he murmured for a second, fixing his eyes in the papers at his left. 'Poor Captain! Whom would he trust the children now? We have to do something to help him.'

'Yes, dear. Whatever you say.'

'Especially now, when he has to do with the Watch single-handed.'

'That is life, dear' answered His Grace with no interest. 'I also have to do with the city single-handed. It is not easy for anyone.'

'But he is so alone, dear. You know what I was talking for all those months since poor Angua left us. We have to do something… Sam! Don't put your attention aside! Leave the papers!'

Deputy Patrician Vimes lifted his face and looked at his wife. 'I have to read this all, dear. If I had time, I would be delighted chatting with you. But this…' he pointed down. '…is important.'

Lady Sybil fastened her angry eyes at his. Sam Vimes was married for… well, almost eight years and he knew that look. He even had a name of it – 'the implicit look' – the one that says: 'If you even consider not obeying, you would have to ask someone to pick up your parts from the floor… with tweezers'. He obeyed calmly, put the papers aside and tried to smile, lifting the spoon from the cold potato soup. Sybil relaxed at her seat and rang the bell at her front. Willikins appeared at once.

'Would you warm up His Grace's soup, Willikins?... Again.'

The butler obeyed. Sir Samuel Vimes sighed in reply and mopped his lips with the napkin. Her Ladyship observed him for longer than he could bear, he leaned back and put his palms on the table.

'I am listening, Sybil. Shoot me.'

She smiled in reply and put her spoon aside. 'Maybe the ball idea would be useful at this moment, dear.'

'We already talked about this, Sybil' protested Vimes. Her Ladyship lifted her conciliatory hand. 'I am just pointing that we could organize a small ball for the Watch, dear. If Captain Ironfaunderson meets a good lady there, it would be a bonus.'

'Sybil!' sighed Vimes. 'The last Watch ball was two hundred years ago.'

'A nice reason to put it now, don't you think so?'

'I don't.'

'Sam, you are not helping me at all.'

'Sorry, dear.'

'After all the society has to be introduced to the brave men and women guarding its safety. Just consider the idea to gather all of the people who are involved with our well being with those who use to rule the city.'

'But, dear!' Vimes's eyes opened widely. 'The thieves and the beggars would not be a good picture to observe.'

'Don't foolish yourself, Samuel Vimes!' laughed Lady Sybil. 'I am talking about the nobles, the Guild presidents, the main merchants, those who rule over the city, darling.'

'I'm sorry, dear.'

'Don't you think this is a good idea?'

Vimes stared at his wife's eyes. No, she was not joking. Not at all. Not this time. She really wanted to do it, didn't she? And what was he doing? Opposing her. He knew he should never oppose when she let her hear the last of something Of course, he was too damn big fool to do it when she already decided it. He tried once. It heart him for weeks.

'What ever you say, dear' replied Sam Vimes.

'Wonderful!' Her Ladyship slapped her hands in reply. 'I think we should put the ball here, dear. The Ancient Hall is big enough for any event, I will contact the food deliverer, and Willikins will become sure everything will be in order. What do you think about… let me see…'

'Some months would be enough to prepare, I guess?' blinked Vimes with misbeliever. He closed his eyes when his wife laughed at his stare.

'Don't be stupid, Samuel. Two weeks would be enough. I will take care of any detail personally. I want this ball to be the best ever we have organized. After all we owe it to our friends from the Watch.'

'Yes, dear. Forgive me my stupidity, dear.'

'What I want from you…' Sybil moved up and pressed his crouched fingers. '…is to be sure Captain Carrot would be there. Would you do me this favour, dear?'

He looked at her, she was using her seducing look. He shimmered, blinked for a while and bent his head. Well, that's it, Vimes thought. I tried, I really tried… Forgive me, old chap Carrot, but you are doomed.

---