by Джеффри Лорд
As the galleys came within catapult range, Blade and Swebon climbed to the top of the siege tower to make sure they could see everything. Blade saw the glint of metal on helmets on the wall and knew that Kuka’s archers were getting into position. The decks of the three ships he was planning to use were nearly deserted-or at least they’d look that way from the galleys. Behind the three ships lay fifty canoes, in clear sight of the galleys but safely out of bowshot until the galleys had passed Blade’s ships.
The galleys now seemed to be stopping and lying on their oars. Blade knew that someone aboard was sure to be considering the possibilities of a trap. After all, three ships lying across the harbor so that they’d force the galleys to pass through in single file and at a crawl?
Blade also doubted that common sense would prevail. Just beyond the three ships lay a solid mass of canoes, the last resistance in the harbor. If the galleys sank those, then they could break out into the open river, to engage the remaining canoes with all the maneuvering room they needed. The temptation to go on would be enormous, trap or not.
The risks of retreating would be even greater. The Emperor’s general had to be watching by now. The last thing the Protector could afford was to appear cautious or even cowardly under the general’s eyes. He’d already lost far too much; he had to gamble if he wanted to be allowed to keep what he had, let alone have any chance to win back what he’d lost.
The galleys rested on their oars so long that Blade was almost ready to signal the archers on the wall to open fire. If the galleys weren’t coming on through, he’d have to hit them as hard as he could where they were. Some of them were within bowshot now, and—
The galley flying the Protector’s personal standard was on the move again, foam curling away from her oars. She’d been third in line; now she was coming up to take the lead. One by one the other galleys started to move, falling in behind the flagship.
Blade slapped Swebon on the back and pointed. He felt like holding his breath, as if that could draw the galleys on faster. He didn’t feel like cheering yet. Too many things could still go wrong.
The galleys came on as if they were running on rails. They were bearing off to port, toward the smallest of Blade’s three ships, the one closest to the island and sand bars. When the Protector’s galley was a hundred yards from that ship, Blade leaned over the railing of the siege tower and waved a red scarf on a long stick. He went on waving it until another red scarf waved from the bow of the third ship. A moment later red flames spurted up from her amidships.
Half the ship’s hold was filled with barrels of oil for cooking and making firepots, so her catching fire was almost an explosion. Before the canoe carrying the fire party was safely away, flames were towering as high as the ship’s mastheads. Sails vanished like dew in the morning, balls of fire danced up and down the tarred rigging, flames gushed out of every port and began to creep out from gaping seams.
The Protector’s galley swung to starboard, away from the blazing ship, backing the oars on one side to turn faster than Blade had expected. She did turn, though. She had to. Between the burning ship and the next one, there wasn’t enough room for the galley to pass. The only clear water now lay between the other two ships. The Protector’s galley stopped turning and backed off another hundred yards. Then the drums started pounding out a fast stroke and the galley surged forward, straight at the gap between the two ships.
Blade let out a sigh of relief. Very little could go wrong now that could defeat his plan. The Protector’s galley came on, the other four turning now to follow in her wake. Blade leaned over the railing and shouted to the men below, then axes cut the last shrouds of the mainmast. Wood cracked like gunshots and ropes flailed about wildly. A flying block clipped a bone ornament from Swebon’s hair without making him blink. Then the ship’s mainmast went over like a toppling pine, plunging into the water just ahead of the Protector’s galley.
Blade would have liked to time the mast’s fall to bring it right down on the galley’s deck. But you couldn’t always have everything so neat in a battle. The galley was still too close to the falling mast to stop, and plowed into it with a cracking of timbers and oars and a chorus of screams from the galley slaves below. A good many of the soldiers on the galley’s deck were knocked off their feet, and the four galleys astern of the flagship had to back oars frantically to keep from ramming her or each other.
For the moment, the Protector’s whole squadron was as immobilized as if it was aground, well within bowshot of all the waiting archers. Blade jumped up and waved a yellow scarf back and forth, as furiously as if the world would end the moment he stopped. Helmets sprouted all along the wall, and the men lying on the decks of Blade’s two ships sprang to their feet. Then arrows and bolts poured down onto the decks of all five galleys.
Now it was the turn of the Sons of Hapanu to go down as if they were being machine-gunned. The crossbows could drill through any armor they wore, while the laminated bows could fire three times as fast as anything the Protector’s men had ever faced. Before Blade scrambled down to the deck of his own ship, the decks of all five galleys were carpeted with dead and dying Guardsmen. Where the planks weren’t covered with bodies, they shone a gruesome red. Blade leaped down into the first canoe to come alongside and ordered the paddlers to take him to the Protector’s galley. He climbed up onto the deck just as the Protector himself burst out of the cabin under the fo’csle.
Before he saw the Protector coming at him, Blade hadn’t felt the slightest interest in being chivalrous toward the man. He wouldn’t have cared if the man died filled with arrows or fell overboard and was eaten by the Horned Ones. Now he saw the Protector advancing toward him, a sword in one hand, the great jeweled staff of office in the other, and tears streaming down his face. Blade wasn’t sure what the Protector was weeping for-friends and comrades, lovers, or merely the disastrous end of both his power and his life. He did know that the Protector deserved a fighting man’s death.
Blade was carrying a gladiator’s shield and a broadsword, and wore only a gladiator’s fighting outfit. The Protector came in so fast that his shorter sword left a red line across Blade’s ribs and another on his shoulder before Blade could get his shield into position. That was almost the last time the Protector hit Blade, but Blade found he couldn’t get through to the Protector either. In spite of his grief and the slippery deck underfoot, the man was as fast and deadly as a hungry leopard.
The two men went around and around, treading on the bodies and the bloody planks, so close together that Blade’s archers couldn’t risk shooting at the Protector. Blade began to wonder how long this fight could go on, knew that he could eventually wear the Protector down, but also knew that the man might get lucky before then. It wouldn’t take much of an edge to let him put his sword into Blade, and he was desperate enough to take almost any risk. Blade decided that he’d better draw the Protector into taking that risk at a time of Blade’s own choosing.
Suddenly Blade wheeled to the right, opening his normally shielded side to the Protector. The Protector thrust, Blade wheeled back, and the sharp edge of his shield caught the Protector’s sword arm. The sword’s point pricked Blade’s ribs again, then it clattered to the deck as the Protector’s arm dangled limp and streaming blood.
With incredible speed the Protector raised the staff and swung it, knocking Blade’s sword out of his hand. Blade blocked the Protector’s next swing with his shield, then closed and grabbed the staff. The Protector struggled to tear it loose, then tried to kick Blade in the groin. Blade brought his shield edge down on the Protector’s leg and the man went down. Blade dropped the shield and hammered away with the staff until Swebon came up and pulled him to his feet. The great staff could indeed crack a man’s skull.
Blade went over to the side and held onto the railing until he felt completely firm on his legs. The thought of the size of the gamble he’d taken chilled him. Yet there could be no doubt-he’d won. The five galleys drifted under an umbrella
of smoke from the burning ship. All of them were surrounded by the canoes of the Forest People, and their decks swarmed with warriors and men of Gerhaa. On one, the surviving galley slaves were already being released and led up on deck.
Much more interesting to Blade was a small ship heading up the harbor as fast as her sweeps would take her. From her foremast flew the Emperor’s standard, and above it a white flag.
Blade found his voice. He pointed to the ship with two flags. «Swebon, I’ll kill any man who fires on that ship with my bare hands.»
«I see it comes from the Emperor.»
«Yes, and I think it brings some words we’d better hear.»
By the time the dead aboard the flagships were separated from the living and laid out on deck, the truce ship was closing in. As the burning ship sank in a cloud of steam, the truce ship came alongside the flagship. Somehow Blade wasn’t at all surprised to see Ho-Marn standing at the ship’s railing, with an embroidered blue robe over his armor.
«Greetings, Ho-Marn!» called Blade.
«Greetings, Blade,» replied the soldier.
Blade took a deep breath. «Ho-Marn, I think the time has come to ask you a few questions.»
Ho-Marn laughed. «Blade, I think the time has come to answer them. You have done all I hoped you would do and more.»
«And-if I hadn’t done what you hoped?»
«Another tool, another time.»
«I understand. Come aboard, Ho-Marn.»
Chapter 23
Five men sat on the balcony to the main room of what had been the Protector’s palace. There was Richard Blade, sitting in the Protector’s whitewashed chair with the Protector’s staff leaning against it. There was Kuka, Swebon, and Ho-Marn, all still in fighting gear. Finally there was a short, sturdy dark man with gray hair, the general of the Emperor of Kylan. Swebon couldn’t begin to pronounce his name or titles, but was willing to call him «Prince,» as Blade did.
They were sitting on the balcony because Blade guessed right when he said the Emperor was the enemy of the Protector, even if he might not be the friend of the Forest People. Swebon remembered Blade’s describing what the Emperor thought, and was glad that Blade was there to describe it for him. It was good that Blade hadn’t gone back to England at once. Swebon would need him for a little while more at least, to teach the Forest People how to understand all the new things which were still coming to them.
He remembered Blade’s words:
«The Emperor wanted to bring down the city of Mashom-Gad. It was growing too wealthy and too powerful from selling the Blood of Hapanu. Its nobles and merchants were becoming ambitious, and the Emperor feared these ambitions.
«About five hundred years ago, Mashom-Gad was a powerful independent city. When the Empire of Kylan was founded, the city came under its rule, but was never happy about this. The people of Mashom-Gad sent their ships across the ocean and founded Gerhaa to get back some of their old power. They got back even more when they discovered the Blood of Hapanu and became wealthy through it.
«A few years ago the nobles of Mashom-Gad and other nobles who also hated the Emperor sent the Protector here to Gerhaa. With the soldiers of his Guard, he was to conquer the Forest People. Then there would be a second empire here in the Forest, under the rule of Mashom-Gad instead of the Emperor of Kylan. In time, perhaps the second empire would make Mashom-Gad strong enough to overthrow the Emperor himself.»
«They look far ahead in Mashom-Gad.»
«Either that, or perhaps far into the past,» said Blade. «But you can see why the Emperor became the Protector’s enemy as soon as he knew what the Protector was doing in Gerhaa.»
«I do. And-the Emperor sent Ho-Marn to Gerhaa to watch the Protector?»
«Exactly. He was also to watch for any weapon for striking at the Protector. He found me.»
Swebon pulled his mind back to the present. The Prince had just finished speaking, and now Ho-Marn was translating what his chief said into the tongue of the Forest People.
«-a small garrison of the Emperor’s troops, to protect those of his people who wish to do business here in Gerhaa.»
«How many?» asked Kuka.
«We can talk of that later.»
«How many?» asked Blade, in a somewhat harsher voice. Ho-Marn saw that Blade would not be put off.
«Not more than a thousand will be needed,» said Ho-Marn.
Blade and Kuka exchanged glances, then both looked at Swebon. The chief nodded. One thousand of the Sons of Hapanu could not do much against the Forest People, not if they were all busy in Gerhaa. Perhaps they could be dangerous with the help of the people of Gerhaa, but Swebon did not think they would have that help. In Gerhaa, the people were not of the Forest or of Kylan. They were of Gerhaa and only of Gerhaa. They would not be the enemies of the Forest People unless they had reason to fear the Forest People-and Swebon would do his best to make sure that Gerhaa would have no reason to fear the Forest People.
Ho-Marn was still speaking. «A small amount in taxes will be paid in the Blood of Hapanu. This will satisfy the temples of Hapanu in Kylan. Otherwise, the Emperor wishes that the trade in the Blood of Hapanu be open to all free subjects of the Empire. You may sell or not sell to anyone, as you wish.»
Swebon was delighted. If the Blood of Hapanu could now be sold to the Sons of Hapanu, the Forest People would never need to fear an enemy again. They could buy all the weapons they could not learn to make themselves. He did not think here was the time or place to say this, however. He would first speak to all the other chiefs and hear their wisdom on the question. He was now Swebon, First Chief of the People, but he was not the only chief and never would be.
Blade nodded. «Is the Prince ready to sign an agreement covering all these terms?»
«I do not think-«began Ho-Marn.
«I do think it would be wise. The sooner we put our agreement in writing, the less chance of any trouble later on. I trust the Emperor, but I do not trust the Emperor’s enemies to be silent forever. Mashom-Gad has lost a battle, but that does not mean that it has lost the war. Even if we think they have, they may think otherwise.»
Ho-Marn spoke to the Prince in the tongue of the Sons of Hapanu. The Prince laughed and nodded, then replied to Ho-Marn. «He thinks Blade is wise,» said the captain. «We will sign for the Emperor, if Blade and Kuka will sign for Free Gerhaa and Swebon for the Forest People.»
«I will,» said Swebon, and then noticed Meera coming up the stairs to the balcony. She still wore men’s clothing, but instead of a bow and quiver carried two gourds filled with the Shield of Life. Blade rose from the Protector’s seat to greet her. She held out one of the gourds and he took it.
«I must ask you people to let Swebon and me go for a few hours,» he said. «Now we are both chiefs among the Forest People, and must give the Shield of Life to the wounded.» He tied the gourd to his belt and picked up the Protector’s staff of office.
«Kuka, take this and put it somewhere safe. It’s too valuable to leave lying around where anyone can steal it, but I certainly don’t want to carry it myself. I-«He frowned, hesitated, then sat down again.
«Blade, are you-?»
«I’m-I’m all right, Swebon. The call-the call has come to return-«He frowned again, apparently in pain. Then he said, «To return to England,» in a steady, clear voice, and he was gone. Where he’d been was only empty air, and the staff was gone with him.
Swebon was the first to recover his voice, because he was the only one Blade had told of what was going to happen. «He had a vision,» the chief said quietly. «He told me that when Gerhaa was free he would return to England.»
Ho-Marn nodded slowly. «Yes, but-did he tell you that the gods would carry him there? It can be nothing else but the work of the gods we’ve seen here.»
Kuka and Meera nodded. Swebon noticed that Meera was shaking, and took her in his arms until she was calm. Then all five of them prayed, each to what he worshipped and each in the manner of his own people.
&nb
sp; Chapter 24
The secure telephone in J’s office rang. He wasn’t surprised to hear Lord Leighton on the other end.
«Ah, J. Good news. Nearly the best, in fact. Richard’s not only back, but he had a fairly straightforward trip and a very easy transition.»
«Both ways?» asked J. He would have liked to be on hand for Richard’s return himself, but for once he hadn’t been able to make it. As chief of security for the Project, he was still tying up loose ends left over from the Ngaa affair.
«Yes. There wasn’t any of the usual psychedelic display on the way out, and no trauma to speak of on the way back. I would say the physiological stress was equivalent to-oh, his running five or six miles on a good track.»
J’s eyebrows rose. «So-something well within the capacity of anyone in good physical condition?»
«I would say yes. Mind you, I’m only going on the doctor’s first report. But it seems as if my hypothesis about the KALI capsule’s reducing the stress of the transition may have something in it.»
A year ago Lord Leighton might have been claiming complete vindication. But the Wizard of Rentoro and the Ngaa seemed to have taught him what J considered badly-needed and long-overdue lessons in caution.
«What about the trip itself? You called it ‘straightforward’, I recall?»
«Quite. It was very much the sort of thing Richard once called ‘Inter-Dimensional social work’-helping people solve a problem they didn’t quite have the knowledge to solve themselves. The sort of thing he can do on his head.»
J caught the hint in the scientist’s voice and said with gentle firmness, «That doesn’t mean anyone else can do the same, Leighton.»
«Certainly not. And we can’t really expect to predict what sort of problems our people will find in Dimension X until we can predict where they’re going to end up. However, I’m quite willing to put off trying to repeat trips until we’ve solved the problem of sending other people besides Blade.
