Guards Guards - Understand

Vimes handed it back to the ape.

“What kind of a man was de Malachite?” he said.

The Librarian gave this the consideration due from someone who knew the Dictionary of City Biography by heart. Then he shrugged.

“Particularly holy?” said Vimes.

The ape shook his head.

“Well, noticeably evil, then?-”

The ape shrugged, and shook his head again.

“If I were you, ” said Vimes, “I'd put that book somewhere very safe. And the book of the Law with it. They're too bloody dangerous. ”

“Oook.”

Vimes stretched. "And now," he said, "let's go and have a drink."

“Oook. ”

“But just a small one.”

“Oook.”

"And you're paying."

“Eeek.”

Vimes stopped and stared down at the big, mild face.

“Tell me,” he said. “I've always wanted to know . . . is it better, being an ape?”

The Librarian thought about it. “Oook,” he said.

“Oh. Really?” said Vimes.

***

Guards Guards - p350-351