Reinforcements were being put together and the City was going to be taking no chances this time round. Vimes had been given permission by the Patrician to use any and all resources necessary. This is why, shortly after Chrononhotonthologos Street had been evacuated, the golems of all shapes but definitely only one size* made their heavy footed way to the waiting Wizards.
*Mahoosive
Wands at the ready and led by Ponder they set about covering each of the stone beings in a mirrored layer. They would act as a reflective wall to bounce the light back at the book and away from the Watch who were now wearing their equally reflective glasses.
"I don't know habout you Nobby, but hi think they qhuite suit me," Sergeant Colon checked out his reflection in the Corporal's own glasses.
"Yer," Nobby agreed as they slowly walked up and down the thoroughfare together. "I fink they should be standard issue."
Captain Carrot called the pair over, "Could you two keep guard at Scoone Avenue? The Chromodemons are going to be coming in that way and we need to make sure no-one tries to sneak in with them. Absolutely nobody must come in or out without us knowing."
"You can count on us Sah!" Colon saluted and they continued their stroll in that direction. The likelihood that any of the upper middle class of that particular avenue would happen to wish to sneak anywhere was low. One did not sneak; one held one's nose aloft and made sure all were aware of one's presence. Nonetheless, Carrot preferred to keep the pair busy.
One thing everyone was unsure of was the exact position on the street that Dulling and the book would appear. They didn't even know if he would walk in like a mere mortal or somehow magically apparate. They arranged themselves in a circle in the centre of the street, Watch in the middle, Commander Vimes in the very middle, then a ring of Wizards all ready to release chromodemons from their tanks. The shiny golems made up the perimeter of the group. The toothsome book trap was positioned at the front. It was on wheels and had two strong ropes attached so that the golems could quickly move the device when the book was spotted. The rest of the university Faculty were still at Unseen University frantically summoning chromodemons that were being transported to the scene right up until 7:30pm.
Tension was high, nerves were frayed and the clock ticked down. Captain Carrot turned to Ponder and asked a very pertinent question, "Tell me, Mr Stibbons, can the future be changed?"
"Um…why do you ask?" although he knew exactly why he was asking.
"Because the pictures of the future show that between 7:45 and 7:47 this street becomes violet. But if we prevent that from happening, then the pictures would show a clean street. But they don't so, does that mean that time will change? Or does that mean our efforts will be in vain?"
"Yes," Ponder answered.
"Yes?" Carrot repeated.
The clock clicked over to 7:44. "I'll be able to give you a more specific answer in say, a couple of minutes?"
###
Dulling was at the edge of the world and everything was overcast with violet. He could feel the familiar pull, the dragging from this picture world to the real world and he resisted but it was no use. He stepped out into a street he didn't recognise and saw the circle of golems facing him, but instead of the book insisting Dulling open it, he was back in the shadows again. Moments later he reappeared at the centre of the circle.
Oh see how they run!
Those next couple of minutes became chaos. Vimes yelled for his Watchmen and women to get out of there and thankfully the golems were quick to follow instructions or else they would all have been trapped with Dulling and the book. The Wizards released the chromodemons but as the book opened it was clear there simply weren't enough of them. The book trap had broken free and was rolling away and all the while violet light streamed out into the air around them. Then there was a crack as the book whipped closed and both it and Dulling were gone.
There was dead silence immediately afterward broken by a cry of "Nooo!" from one of the younger officers who fell to his knees beside his partner, Constable Lumwinkle. Her little glasses had been knocked off in all the confusion and now her violet eyes stared blankly upward. All told, despite their best efforts, the whole undertaking had been a disaster and now oblivion lay just around the corner.
Captain Carrot looked at Ponder who made to speak, but the Captain shook his head. This was not a time for words. The young officer unclipped his cape and laid it over the gnome before gently picking her up and led by Vimes began the slow, sad walk to Pseudopolis Yard.