FORESHADOWING

REVIEWS

Watchman – Hey you! No problem. To answer your question, they'd been planning this for a while and made plans and stuff so the Watch all knew. And I really should have a plot, but never mind. I'll live.

The lunatic who cares – That's not much of a recommendation, hun. Go read more books. If you want to know who these people are, I suggest Guards Guards and Men at Arms… Glad you reviewed, but really?

MIKE – I know, I don't like him either. That's why I do things like this. Just wait; I'll have some fun with him before the end, I expect.

Jess Idres – I think we have our first official fangirl here! Thanks for the plushies, but you keep 'em – I already have my own, naturally. I'm glad you're so enthusiastic about it. hugs wolfies

Egleriel – Um, probably not. AU is one thing, but I do try to stay mostly in character when I can – unless it's amusing to change it. No, he won't. But other fun stuff will happen.

LottiRebel – All right, all right, be patient. I have other things on as well, you know. Two other fanfics in progress, for a start, plus coursework shudder But thanks anyway

Taliara – Glad you're still around. Helpful review, lol.

Blank Ned – Don't die! I need all my reviewers at least vaguely living!

Tinuviel3 – Thanks, I'm getting there

Ozodrac – salutes Yessir!

You'll be happy to know that I might just have a plot. Shocking, isn't it.

CHAPTER TWO

Vimes nodded bleakly at Angua. "Pretty much, yes."

There was a short silence. Finally Carrot asked, "But why?"

Vimes shrugged. "Who knows? Rust's wanted to have another go at the Watch for years and he's always hated me. For some reason of his own, Vetinari decided to indulge him. It's all perfectly legal."

"Sir, I think I've just found a problem…" That was Angua. Both Vimes and Carrot looked at her, and she said, "Full moon. Rust's not smart enough to be in on all the conspiracies; he doesn't know what I am. And nobody outside the Watch knows about Carrot, not even Vetinari. So how do we justify taking those nights off?"

Vimes seemed about to answer when he blinked. "What do you mean, Vetinari doesn't know?"

Carrot replied, "We thought you knew, sir. He doesn't spy on the Watch any more."

"Not since his last spy was found tied to the spire on the roof of the temple in Small Gods with an old teething ring tied into his mouth and both his arms broken," Angua added almost under her breath.

Vimes shrugged. "I was making a point."

"I think he listened," she replied dryly. "But that doesn't help us. What do we tell Rust?"

"Tell you what… You can both have those three days off as well as the nights. Tell him it's your holiday. He'll argue, tell you that you can't…"

"…And we'll settle for the nights as a compromise," Carrot finished. "Well done, sir."

That was the most productive thing they managed to decide, despite talking about it for three and a half hours. In the end they concluded that Vimes would go on holiday, spend some time with his wife and son and hope there was a Watch left when he got back; Carrot and Angua would spend their time ensuring that this was the case and resisting the urge to punch Rust.

The Watch turned out the next morning to wave their commander off; it wasn't necessary but they did so anyway, because it was likely to be their last glimpse of sanity for the next few weeks. Barely had the coach rattled away down the street when another arrived from the other direction, with the extremely pretentious coat of arms of the Rust family on the door; the Watch promptly scattered, cutting through the stableyard at the back and escaping on patrol with uncharacteristic eagerness.

Angua and Carrot, left outside, exchanged glances before reluctantly standing to attention and saluting as the coach door slammed open.

Rust stepped out and glared at them both disapprovingly. Angua was vaguely amused to note that he still had no idea how to treat a female Watchman; those washed-out blue eyes skipped straight past her to Carrot. "Captain."

"Welcome to the Watch, sir," Carrot replied, still at attention. "Glad to have you with us."

Angua blinked. This ought to be commemorated in some way; the first real lie Carrot had ever told. Trying not to grin, she stared straight ahead.

END OF PART TWO

There it is. Didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped; I dried up at the end. Coming in part three:

Rust Addresses his 'Men'

And some other stuff I haven't thought of yet

Frosteh