Underrted moment in Thud!
A lot of people talk about the "where's my cow?" scene in Thud and don't get me wrong it is incredible, like one of the best parts of any books I've ever read, but there's an earlier moment that really stood out to me when going through the book.
A short dark figure was at the top of the stairs and disappearing into the nursery.
The broad, stately staircase soared in front of him, a stairway to the top of the sky. He ran up it, hearing himself screaming - 'I'll kill you'll killyoukillyoukillyoukillkillkill you'll kill you kill you'llkill you-' The terrible fury choked him, the rage and dreadful fear set his lungs on fire, and still the stairs unrolled. There was no end to them. They climbed for ever, while he was falling backwards, into hell. But hell buoyed him up, gave wings to his rage, lifted him, sent him back.
I'm blown away by how amazing Terry's description is, moments like these are why his books can be both the funniest thing you've ever read and also stab you in the deepest part of your heart.
This is such a viscerally different Sam then we ever see before, he isn't a copper here, he isn't a comander, I don't even think this is the Summoning Dark, it's just such pure, raw desperate panic and rage. I think that if Young Sam was hurt here, then Vime's would have fully broken, it's the closest in the book he ever comes to to completely losing himself.
Another moment like it is this
But it's so short and so much is going on it's easy to forget
'And supposing what it has to say is dreadful?' said the King.
'Then we listen!'
'I am the King, Vimes! You have no authority here! This is not your city! You stand here defying me with a handful of men and your wife and child not ten miles away-' Rhys stopped, and the echoes bounced back from distant caves, tumbling over themselves and dying into a silence that rang like iron. Out of the corner of his ear Vimes heard Sally say, 'Oops'. Bashfullsson hurried forward and whispered something in the King's ear. The dwarf's expression changed as only a politician's face can, into careful amity.
The Low King has 60 armed dwarfs here and army's to back them up, but when he even implies a threat to Vimes's family he immediately realises he has fucked up very very badly. I have a feeling he knew that no army or king would be able to survive what Vime's would do if they actually threatened his family.
