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man seems a bit of a shrub, but these men are in their own houses. By Aesir,
they know what shrubs they have and Drunnel's men have no face-blackening moon
cream."
"They have lamp black," said Deya. "They may use that."
"If they think of it. It makes them conspicuous then when they are in the
light." Carron nodded. "What plans have you made, Grayth?"
"No detailed plans, for we are not ready. Had we had another month even a
week, perhaps we might have learned then to sum-mon Aesir to our aid, and we
had plans for that. But now we must do as we can. Look; first the leaders, the
speakers, must be concen-trated and guarded here. Then, to stop this battle,
we must some-how destroy three men: Drunnel, Rendan and Grasun. Beyond that
succession the power of the leadership is not determined among them, and
they'd fight among themselves. If that could be done this night, the month we
need would be gained. The Mother would see that one of the others took up the
fight, but not immediately; time would elapse. Drunnel, Rendan and
Grasun."
"Right." Carron nodded. "But they'll be at the square, in the cen-ter of their
men. They'll be hard men to catch, and quick-footed men."
Grayth touched his headband fleetingly, his eyes intent on Car-ron. "We may be
able to outguess them."
Carron's eyes lighted with understanding.
"Aye we might. We can try."
"The speakers with their escorts are almost here," Deya said, her eyes
clearing from an effort of concentration. "Perhaps the door "
A man sprang to draw the bolts as a knock sounded outside. A moment later ten
men in the crimson cloaks of the speakers en-tered, crowding about in the tiny
room. Fifty men in the dark green of the legion of peace, and a score in
civilian motley waited out-side. Carron stepped to the door. "A line of
you about the cottage and move outward till you surround the block. Make sure
there's no man of Drunnel's within your line."
The men faded into nothingness under the shadowed trees, vanishing in silence
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and darkness under the deceptive moonlight, seeming so bright, yet actually
colorless and dim. Carron closed and barred the door behind him.
"We'll take those men and join at the square. I haven't heard a sound since
the call of Drunnel's men,"
Grayth said. Til go with you, Carron, and we'll start at once. Somehow we must
get Drun-nel, Rendan and
Grasun."
"They won't agree with us," said Bartel sourly. "They no doubt have similar
plans on you. It seems to me that you would be much better off staying here
and letting us do that, for just as surely as Drunnel's forces collapse with
his disappearance, ours collapse if you are taken. The battle would be over,
right enough with Drun-nel in power."
Grayth shook his head. "The speakers are here; they will be goal for many of
Drunnel's men, but
Drunnel will not want them," he said softly. "Drunnel wants me, and you.
Therefore, we will go where he cannot find us. If we stay, he can lay plans to
attack us. If we are somewhere in the city, our group can lay plans of
defense, knowing where we are, while Drunnel, not knowing, cannot plan attack.
And we have work."
Bartel stepped through the door after him. As the three faded into the
shadows, the dry grating of the bolts rattled the door behind them. In a
moment their eyes became accustomed to the moonlight, the dimness seemed to
roll back, and the silvery light grew stronger. Presently it seemed that it
was illumination as effec-tive, as strong as daylight. Then, abruptly, a
shadowy being emerged from the darkness under a tree, appearing as though from
thin air. "There's no one between the cottage here and the ring of watchers,"
he murmured.
Carron nodded. "Gather the men near Phalun's cottage. We'll make for the
square." Carron hefted the table leg in his hand, and slipped into the shadow
with the others. Grayth halted him, took the heavy weapon from him.
"Whatever the Mother has given them, it will more than likely be electric in
nature," he said after a moment. "Discard metal and take wooden weapons. Warn
your men against metal things."
At the corner of a tree-shadowed cottage they met the troop of men, and Carron
passed the warning along. The soft clink and thud of metal followed slowly,
reluctantly. The force dispersed quietly, groups of two and three wandering
off to return moments later, si-lent, drifting shadows in the moonlight,
carrying faintly lustrous table legs and chair legs of nonconducting, plastic
material, one with a five-foot, pointed plastic rod ripped from an atom flame
pro-jector. And at the hip of each swung the blued-metal air guns.
Silent, drifting ghosts, they passed down the streets, scattered under clumps
of moon shadow, following the lawns and dust-muffled roads. Slow accretions [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]