noirandchocolate:‘Fine body of men,’ said Lady Ramkin.  ‘The good old rank an

noirandchocolate:‘Fine body of men,’ said Lady Ramkin.  ‘The good old rank and file, eh?’‘The rank, anyway,’ said Vimes.Lady Ramkin beamed encouragingly.  This led to a strange shuffling among the men.  Sergeant Colon, by dint of some effort, managed to make his chest stick out more than his stomach.  Carrot straightened up from his habitual stoop.  Nobby vibrated with soldierly bearing, hands thrust straight down by his sides, thumbs pointing sharply forward, pigeon chest inflated so much that his feet were in danger of leaving the ground.‘I always think we can all sleep safer in my bed knowing that these brave men are watching over us,’ said Lady Ramkin, walking sedately along the rank, like a treasure galleon running ahead of a mild breeze.  ‘And who is this?’It is difficult for an orangutan to stand to attention.  Its body can master the general idea, but its skin can’t.  The Librarian was doing his best, however, standing in a sort of respectful heap at the end of the line and maintaining the kind of complex salute you can only achieve with a four-foot arm.‘‘E’s plain clothes, ma’am,’ said Nobby smartly.  ‘Special Ape Services.’‘Very enterprising.  Very enterprising indeed,’ said Lady Ramkin.  ‘How long have you been an ape, my man?’‘Oook.’‘Well done.’ –Terry Pratchett, “Guards! Guards!” (illustration by Paul Kidby taken from the 2021 Dunmanifestin edition)(Once again Kidby has put some very nice detail into his illustration.  Nobby especially looks exactly as described in the text.) -- source link

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