FORESHADOWING
Random disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. Much to my disappointment.
REVIEWS
Ozodrac: Best reviewer, what can I say? I'm relieved you still like it. And no, Gaspode isn't really noble, but he is a lot of fun. Yes, the book was random… I was following Lacemaking Through The Ages, after all.
Jess: Don't worry; it made perfect sense to me. Yes, fluffy loved-up wolfies. And yay for your update.
Artemis: That was the idea. Glad to see that it worked.
Ned: See, most people would tell you that you should have done your maths first and then reviewed, but it would be hypocritical of me to say that.
Lunatic: Damn straight you will. I'm gonna lock you in with the entire series and won't let you out until you've read every single one.
CHAPTER SIX
Vetinari didn't react to the sounds, but when everything seemed to have settled down he inquired idly, "Has Sir Samuel been informed of the recent changes in government?"
"Not yet," the voice of the unseen interpreter replied; Gaspode was now balanced on Angua's back to get close enough to the bars that he didn't have to shout. "We – that is, they – figured he'd be upset if he found out and it could get… messy."
That was a diplomatic translation; what Angua had actually said was that Vimes would go completely off his head and probably kill someone, not to mention that Lady Sybil would probably kill whichever Watchman had been stupid enough to tell him.
"True," the Patrician allowed after a pause, a thin smile barely touching his lips. "What news in the city?"
Whilst Gaspode passed on such political developments as the Watch were aware of, Carrot was by now following Leonard's trail on the other side of the river and finding it slow going. His nose wasn't as good as Angua's, but she was better at politics than he was; frankly, even Sam Vimes Junior was likely to be better at practical politics, and he wasn't much over six months old. So she stayed behind, and he went hunting.
After the day or so that had passed, the trail was so faint he lost it several times, but he kept going and wasn't really all that surprised to find that it led towards the houses up around King's Way and Scoone Avenue where most of the nobility lived. It was inevitable that the scent ran directly to Rust's house, really, and it also showed a near-terminal lack of brains on his Lordship's part. As if they hadn't known that already.
The red wolf circled around the building a few times, avoiding the few guards asleep on their feet in various places, until he picked out voices coming from an upper window. Cautious and to be honest doomed experimentation taught him that with the best will in the world, a wolf most emphatically cannot climb a tree to look through a window. Wincing and limping slightly, somewhat thankful nobody had seen that particular incident and also grateful that wolves couldn't blush when embarrassed, he settled for standing directly under the window and straining his ears.
The first clear sounds he heard belonged to Rust. In wolf form it was quite hard to follow human conversation, so once he'd heard anything he then had to sit and puzzle it out for a while, but the discussion went like this.
Rust's voice first, low and probably meant to be threatening, although in reality it sounded like he was constipated. "Do you know what we'll do to you if you don't comply?"
Leonard answered; Carrot knew his voice from the memorable space voyage more than a year before. He sounded exactly the same as always, politely bewildered with the world around him. "No, not really… But if you could give me a few moments I'm sure I – "
He was cut off sharply by Rust, who then proceeded to describe some quite graphic tortures in loving detail. Carrot, outside, was trying very hard not to be sick. When he could focus again, he heard Leonard's reply.
"I've never really agreed with violence, you know… But I suppose, if it makes you happy. It's still better than what you are asking of me."
A pause and some faint sounds; straining, Carrot decided that someone – presumably, someone who knew a little more about the da Quirm mentality – was whispering advice in his Lordship's ear.
Rust didn't seem entirely convinced, but he kept the same menacing tone; Carrot was reasonably sure he practised sounding like that in his room at night. "All right, if that won't persuade you, I will be forced to use my most vicious form of torture. I'll confiscate your pencils and paper."
Leonard gasped in horror. "You monster!"
Back at the jail, there hadn't been all that much to say. Rust had shown no interest in running the city, seeming preoccupied; Angua's best guess was that he was planning a war. He seemed the type. Given what she'd seen in Klatch, that was possibly the target; then again, he'd also made a complete fool of himself in Borogravia in front of her and Vimes, so that was another potential target.
Gaspode dutifully repeated everything she told him. Vetinari agreed noncommittally and refused to give his opinion, which was annoying but not really surprising. Finally she asked through her canine interpreter whether his Lordship had any advice as to what the Watch should do apart from try and maintain some sort of order.
"Far be it for me to command the Watch," he replied smoothly. "I appear to be a criminal, after all, and surely therefore have no authority over any of you."
Angua swore again irritably. Gaspode replied, thankful that Vetinari couldn't understand what she'd said since it wasn't at all complimentary, "The charges against you are complete rubbish, an' you know it. Sir," he added hastily. "But Slant's on Rust's side, so it's gonna take a while to prove it, that's all. Isn't there anythin' you want from the Watch?"
After a moment Vetinari replied carefully, "If the sergeant is still out there, then please tell her that we have a mutual friend who would appreciate hearing the full story…"
There was a short pause whilst she worked this out, and then Angua grinned. Thanking him via Gaspode, she turned and trotted away, Gaspode trailing after her and whining. "Which friend? I don't understand. What did he mean?"