"Right, you've got the picture, Otto? Excellent. Now if I could just have a few words about..." William began, then stopped dead.
Literally, but also figuratively.
"Er... those aren't Zlobenian uniforms. In fact, the Zlobenian uniforms are being worn by... dear lord, you overpowered them? Raw recruits, and you overpowered a crack squad of Zlobenian cavalry?"
This was excellent. This was even better than the story he'd thought he was going to get. Everyone loved the underdog.
As intent on this as he was, it was perhaps excusable that he didn't note that there was a vampire hidden in the shadows. But then, vampires don't have telltale heartbeats to give them away, and he wasn't checking the shadows.
"Right, then, who's in charge here? I have to talk to whoever that is."
Oh, by the dead or dying Duchess, it was. Maladict kept to the shadows and moved to the corner. He wasn't following Jackrum and Blouse, but he was edging along.
It was, it was William. Polly hadn't noticed Maladict slipping away. He doubted anyone would, except possibly the photographer, only he seemed busy.
"I'm the officer here. Lieutenant Blouse. Might I ask who you are?"
William took out a card and handed it to him. Something had started itching in his mind. There was a familiar... smell, maybe. Presence, possibly. He couldn't put his finger on it.
"William de Worde, Ankh-Morpork Times. Let's see... do you know what a newspaper is?"
Blouse shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Some sort of stationary designed for announcements? I've often thought that things would run more smoothly if we weren't relying on the same blank A4 sized sheets for every task..."
"...er, sort of," William said. "It's a little bit more complicated. Right. What happens is that I find out things that happen, adn then I write them down, and then I publish them for the world to see. Er. Other people help. Look, Otto, duck out and fetch me the latest edition we have in the cart, will you?"
The photographer was muttering something about a filter. Maladict debated whether or not to follow him out, but there was a strange, throat-clearing noise that was entirely jarring in an ineffectual kind of way. Maladict figured it came from about the place his chin ought to have been.
"I'm sorry, Mr. de Worde, is it? Yes? Um, I couldn't help but noticing that you are, ah, a 'creature of the night'." Maladict resisted the urge to drop his face into his palm. The other vampire came back in with what Maladict had to assume was a newspaper.
So that's what the fuss was about? He smiled a little.
Comments 258
Literally, but also figuratively.
"Er... those aren't Zlobenian uniforms. In fact, the Zlobenian uniforms are being worn by... dear lord, you overpowered them? Raw recruits, and you overpowered a crack squad of Zlobenian cavalry?"
This was excellent. This was even better than the story he'd thought he was going to get. Everyone loved the underdog.
As intent on this as he was, it was perhaps excusable that he didn't note that there was a vampire hidden in the shadows. But then, vampires don't have telltale heartbeats to give them away, and he wasn't checking the shadows.
"Right, then, who's in charge here? I have to talk to whoever that is."
Reply
No. It couldn't-
No. It couldn't possibly be-
Oh, by the dead or dying Duchess, it was. Maladict kept to the shadows and moved to the corner. He wasn't following Jackrum and Blouse, but he was edging along.
It was, it was William. Polly hadn't noticed Maladict slipping away. He doubted anyone would, except possibly the photographer, only he seemed busy.
What had the Ankh-Morpork paper to do with this?
Reply
William took out a card and handed it to him. Something had started itching in his mind. There was a familiar... smell, maybe. Presence, possibly. He couldn't put his finger on it.
"William de Worde, Ankh-Morpork Times. Let's see... do you know what a newspaper is?"
Blouse shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Some sort of stationary designed for announcements? I've often thought that things would run more smoothly if we weren't relying on the same blank A4 sized sheets for every task..."
"...er, sort of," William said. "It's a little bit more complicated. Right. What happens is that I find out things that happen, adn then I write them down, and then I publish them for the world to see. Er. Other people help. Look, Otto, duck out and fetch me the latest edition we have in the cart, will you?"
Reply
"I'm sorry, Mr. de Worde, is it? Yes? Um, I couldn't help but noticing that you are, ah, a 'creature of the night'." Maladict resisted the urge to drop his face into his palm. The other vampire came back in with what Maladict had to assume was a newspaper.
So that's what the fuss was about? He smiled a little.
Reply
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