Hello its me again, not your average! How lucky are you guys- its only been a day and already you're getting more vimesy action! Where do i find the time? Anyhoo, i saw my lovely reviews and i just had to post some more story. i'm actually addicted to the reviews now...pleeees, give me more! Ok i kno thats a bit strange when iv only got two readers but meyh.
Luska- still not long enough, damn you! And where, exactly, is chapter four of Cities apart? Hmm? I'm waiting! and i'm sure teakettle and s are waiting too! relax- im not going to nick any more of your ideas (well...jks). But i am eagerly awaiting next installment. There are only so many times one can re-read. Oh, and can you pls remember how to use telephonic devices. I'm not fond of talking to BIG D.
Teakettle- i actually love you! Your review made me so happy. And i'll let you in on a secret (kay, its not that exciting)- i wrote chapters 2 and 3 before i wrote 1, intended to be a follow on to Enelya's Cities Apart (hence the somewhat glaringly obvious plot robbing). But she wouldnt let me post it (fair enough) so i wrote chapter 1 in somewhat of a hurry, which might explain why the style is different. Then again i think 3 is different too....maybe i'll just bounce around various Terry Prattchettesque styles of writing until i hit on one i can stick with. Or invent my own characters/plots and stop ripping him off. Anyway...if you love vimes so much (ahh, vimes) why don't you write a Vimes fanfic? i read one of your stories but hadn't seen the programme it was based on so....kinda lost on me. I'm sure you could write a fantabulous vimes. As for :
"Well, err, yes, um, back to work then, eh?"
"(cough)Yes, see you next week."
I imagine Vimes just running out in shock, without a word. Or maybe something was said...i might work it in in later chapters. Vimes definitely broke it off, though. Def.
Right, i've babbled long enough. I'm sorry this one isn't as long as the others but am working on chapter 4 right now! (i'm also sorry they all have silly names). Oh, i've just realised why i have time to do this. Its cos i never do any real work! Damn........
Chapter 3- Ahmed.
Vimes strode forward and embraced Ahmed roughly, laughing.
'Ah, your grace, it has been too long.' Vimes released the man and went to his desk, still grinning broadly. He picked up two of his finest cigars and offered one to Ahmed.
'Damned if I'll be 'your grace' to you, you old bastard. Good gods, its been over a year since I saw you last! I can't believe it.' Ahmed clapped a hand on his shoulder, leaned over and lit his cigar from Vimes' match.
'And what should I call you?' he drawled in his gentleman's 'Ankh-Morpork' voice. 'Sir Samuel? Sam? Sammy?' Vimes shuddered at this inadvertent reminder of the morning's events. How could he even have thought of Vetinari when Ahmed was in the country? How could he have not known he was here?
'What's wrong?' Ahmed was looking into his eyes.
'Nothing. And you can call me Sam. I think you've earned that privilege.' Ahmed grinned a hundred carat grin.
'Ah, yes. What adventures we had, Sam. I can still see the look on my prince's face when you pressed the trigger.'
'So can I. How is Cadram? Still plotting fratricide somewhere?'
'The desert swallowed him. And Khufurah is an excellent ruler, as well you know.' Vimes couldn't keep the smile off his face as Ahmed talked of state affairs. Here was exactly what he needed. His greatest friend, the one person in the world who he felt understood him. For Vimes had no-one else but Ahmed. Colon? Colon was not on his level and they both knew it. Carrot? He was too young, too naïve. Vetinari? Hah! That man certainly understood Vimes, but only in the way a mortician might understand a dead body, by inspecting it closely, cutting it up. He'd certainly misjudged that morning…
He looked up into Ahmed's golden smile, and found Vetinari pushed from his mind.
'Are you sure there is no problem? Perhaps I have come at an inconvenient time for you?'
'No!' Vimes nearly shouted it. 'This morning his lordship and I had…a fight. That's all.'
'Oh.' Ahmed still looked unsure. Vimes decided he liked to see him that way. Vulnerable. 71 Hour-Ahmed was the man with the plan, the man with all the answers. Maybe that was what attracted Vimes in the first place, because Vimes was the man with no plan, and no answers either, most of the time.
'Come on' he said, putting an arm around Ahmed's shoulders. 'Let's go and see the City. One thing you haven't told me… why are you here, Ahmed?' Ahmed smiled lazily.
'Come now, Commander Vimes. You are an intelligent man. Don't you know?' Vimes heart began to beat hard in his chest. Ahmed leaned over and kissed him once on each cheek like Klatchian nobility. Vimes blushed and Ahmed grinned. Then the two of them turned and walked out of the office.
In the depths of the Patrician's palace Lord Vetinari was undecided. He paced the Oblong Office while his mounds of daily paperwork lay untouched. What should he do? Go to Vimes and explain? Wait for Vimes to come to him? He would surely have to, sooner or later. The watch wages, he seemed to recall, were due today. And they needed his signature. Hah! Vimes would have to come then.
The Patrician settled down to his work, and Drumknott, his secretary, breathed a sigh of relief. Anything that unbalanced the Patrician was something that could unbalance the entire city. But then, there was the expression of unmistakeable disappointment that flitted across lord Vetinari's face when he showed in Sergeant Colon, the heat of the day and the effect of the Patrician's odd clock making his big face perspire. He was clutching the wages chit, and Drumknott thought it was odd that Vimes hadn't brought it. The man usually took a delight in watching the Patrician sign over increasingly large sums of money as the Watch grew and grew. Perhaps, Drumknott mused as he saw Colon out, he was taking some well-deserved rest. He always tried to do too much.
Five minutes later Drumknott was astonished to see Lord Vetinari ignoring his work yet again, and gazing out of the huge windows to the city, in particular in the direction that Drumknott knew the Watch house lay. A horrible suspicion began to enter the secretary's mind, but he said nothing.
'Drumknott' said Lord Vetinari distantly, without turning around.
'My lord?'
'Order a carriage, will you? I think I shall make a routine inspection of the Watch houses.' Drumknott nodded imperceptibly to himself. Of course. Damn Vimes! The Patrician had allowed him to run around upsetting everyone in the city and now it had come back on him. He should have guessed. The Patrician had never married, and now Drumknott began to think of it, Commander Vimes was the only person Vetinari seemed to take any interest in. He remembered a conversation from long ago….
'My lord, it occurs to me that if Commander Vimes didn't exist you would have had to invent him.'
'Do you know, Drumknott, I rather think I did.'
It was with great forebodings that Drumknott entered the carriage after Lord Vetinari. The Patrician leaned forward.
'Pseudopolis Yard, please,' he said to the driver.
Vimes was enjoying himself immensely. Ahmed, after apologising to Sergeant Colon (who had been found gibbering in terror in the cupboard under the stairs) was a great hit among the Watchmen. He had performed several sword tricks and was now telling of his time in the Klatchian deserts, avoiding Prince Cadram's men. Vimes suspected half of the stories were complete fabrication but that didn't matter because Ahmed was in his element. He had just launched into the story of how he and Vimes had held up the Prince of Klatch, a selection of Anhk- Morpork nobility and both armies when there were hoof beats outside and the noise of a carriage coming to a stop. Vimes stood up and went outside. Ahmed followed him, and then stood stock still as he found himself subjected to the icy gaze of Lord Vetinari.
Him! Lord Vetinari stared in horror into the scarred, bearded face of the one man he truly hated in the world. But 71 Hour-Ahmed was supposed to be in Klatch, far away from Vimes. How could this have happened without his knowledge? Vetinari regarded his rival with a cold hatred that obviously surprised the other man. Vimes coughed uncomfortably.
'Lord Vetinari, this is 71 Hour-Ahmed, a friend and chief policeman of Prince Khufurah of Klatch.'
'I know who he is' snapped the Patrician, colour flaring in cheeks that were usually as pale as the grave. 'What I want to know is why he is here.'
Vimes could feel Ahmed bristling at this unexplained hostility. Ye gods, he thought, Vetinari is jealous!
'He recently aided in the capture of a wanted criminal,' he said coldly. 'And, as I believe I have mentioned, he is a friend of mine.' Ahmed stepped forwards and placed a hand on Vimes' shoulder, smirking. The patrician saw a flash of gold and felt enraged by this man, who dared to touch Vimes. And Vimes let him. Of course the patrician knew about Ahmed. How could he have missed the change in Vimes when he returned from Klatch? Here was someone with whom Vetinari knew he could not compete. Ahmed was a policeman, Vimes' equal. And the worst thing was that diplomacy forbade any action against the man! All he could do was hope that Ahmed's visit was to be a short one.
Vimes nodded at the Patrician and went back into the Watch house, Ahmed following closely behind him. The room was deserted now, no one having wanted to wait around to incur the Patrician's wrath. Vimes slumped in a chair and shut his eyes, suddenly exhausted. He felt Ahmed come and sit close to him and opened his eyes to find the other man's face very near his own. Vimes leaned closer, and kissed him softly on the lips.
Somewhere outside their private world, unnoticed, someone watched. And smoked. And stealthily walked away.