myth.conceptions-第24部分

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　〃Only　if　you　are　willing　to　give　us　one　of　your　officers　in　return　as　a　hostage；〃　I　replied。
　〃I've　already　said　none　of…〃　the　mander　began。
　〃He　need　not　enter　our　camp；〃　I　explained。　〃He　can　remain　well　outside　our　force；　on　the　edge　of　the　tree　line　in　full　view　of　your　force。　I　will　personally　guarantee　his　safety。〃
　The　mander　chewed　his　lip　thoughtfully。
　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃Since　you　have　shown　an　interest　in　his　career；　I　will　give　you　Claude　to　hold　as　a　hostage。〃
　The　young　officer　paled　but　remained　silent。
　〃Agreed；〃　I　said。　〃We　will　await　your　decision。〃
　I　nodded　to　my　rades；　and　they　obediently　began　filing　out　of　the　pavilion。　Claude　hesitated；　then　joined　the　procession。
　I　wanted　to　tell　Aahz　to　be　careful　but　decided　against　it。　It　wouldn't　do　to　admit　my　partner's　vulnerability　in　front　of　the　mander。　Instead；　I　nodded　curtly　to　the　officers　and　followed　my　rades。
　Tanda　and　Brockhurst　were　well　on　their　way　back　to　the　treeline。　Claude；　on　the　other　hand；　was　waiting　for　me　as　I　emerged　and　fell　in　step　beside　me。
　〃While　we　have　a　moment；〃　he　said　stiffly；　〃I　would　like　to　thank　you　for　interceding　in　my　behalf　with　my　superiors。〃
　〃Don't　mention　it；〃　I　mumbled　absently。
　〃No；　really；〃　he　persisted。　〃Chivalry　to　an　opponent　is　rarely　seen　these　days。　I　think…〃
　〃Look；　Claude；〃　I　growled；　〃credit　it　to　my　warped　sense　of　justice。　I　don't　like　you；　and　didn't　when　we　first　met；　but　that　doesn't　make　you　inpetent。　Unpleasant；　perhaps；　but　not　inpetent。〃
　I　was　harsher　with　him　than　I　had　intended　to　be；　but　I　was　worried　about　Aahz。
　Finding　himself　thus　rebuked；　he　sank　into　an　unfortable　silence　which　lasted　almost　until　we　reached　the　trees。　Then　he　cleared　his　throat　and　tried　again。
　〃Um　。　。　。　Skeeve？〃
　〃Yeah？〃　I　retorted　curtly。
　〃1　。　。　。　um　。　。　。　what　I　was　trying　to　say　was　that　I　am　grateful　and　would　repay　your　favor　by　any　reasonable　means　at　my　disposal。〃
　Despite　my　concern；　his　offer　penetrated　my　mind　as　a　potential　opportunity。
　〃Would　answering　a　few　questions　fall　under　the　heading　of　‘reasonable'？〃　I　asked　casually。
　〃Depending　upon　the　questions；〃　he　replied　carefully。　〃I　am　still　a　soldier；　and　my　code　of　conduct　clearly　states…〃
　〃Tell　you　what；〃　I　interrupted。　〃I'll　ask　the　questions；　and　you　decide　which　ones　are　okay　to　answer。　Fair　enough？〃
　〃So　it　would　seem；〃　he　admitted。
　〃Okay；〃　I　began。　〃First　question。　Do　you　think　the　mander　will　actually　bypass　Possiltum？〃
　The　officer　avoided　my　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　shook　his　head　briskly。
　〃I　should　not　answer　that；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　will。　I　do　not　feel　the　mander　is　even　considering　it　as　a　serious　possibility；　nor　does　any　officer　in　that　tent。　He　is　known　as　‘the　Brute；'　even　among　his　most　loyal　and　seasoned　troops。　May　I　assure　you　he　did　not　acquire　that　nickname　by　surrendering　or　capitulating　while　his　force　was　still　intact。〃
　〃Then　why　did　he　go　through　the　motions　of　the　meeting　just　now？〃　I　queried。
　〃To　gain　time；〃　Claude　shrugged。　〃As　your　assistants　noted；　he　is　using　the　delay　to　mass　his　troops。　The　only　code　he　adheres　to　is　‘Victory　at　all　costs。'　In　this　case；　it　seems　it　is　costing　him　his　honor。〃
　I　thought　about　this　for　a　moment　before　asking　my　next　question。
　〃Claude；〃　I　said　carefully；　〃you've　faced　us　in　battle；　and　you　know　your　own　army。　If　your　prediction　is　correct　and　the　Brute　attacks　in　force；　in　your　opinion；　what　are　our　chances　of　victory？〃
　〃Nil；〃　the　officer　replied　quietly。　〃I　know　it　may　sound　like　enemy　propaganda；　but　I　ask　you　to　believe　my　sincerity。　Even　with　the　additional　forces　you　displayed　this　evening；　if　the　Brute　sets　the　legions　in　motion；　they'll　roll　right　over　you。　Were　I　in　your　position；　I　would　take　advantage　of　the　cover　of　night　to　slip　away；　and　not　fear　the　stigma　of　cowardice。　You're　facing　the　mightiest　army　ever　assembled。　Against　such　a　force　there　is　no　cowardice；　only　self…preservation。〃
　I　believed　him。　The　only　question　was　what　should　I　do　with　the　advice。
　〃I　thank　you　for　your　counsel；〃　I　said　formally。　〃And　will　consider　your　words　carefully。　For　now；　if　you　will　please　remain　here　in　the　open　as　promised；　I　must　consult　with　my　troops。〃
　〃One　more　thing；〃　Claude　said；　laying　a　restraining　hand　on　my　arm。　〃If　any　harm　befalls　your　assistant；　the　one　you　left　at　the　meeting；　I　would　ask　that　you　remember　I　was　here　with　you　and'　had　no　part　in　it。
　〃I　will　remember；〃　I　nodded；　withdrawing　my　arm。　〃But　if　the　Brute　tries　to　lay　a　hand　on　Aahz；　I'll　wager　he'll　wish　he　hadn't。〃
　As　I　turned　to　seek　out　my　team；　I　wished　I　felt　as　confident　as　I　sounded。
　Tanda　came　to　me　readily　when　I　caught　her　eye　and　beckoned　her　away　from　the　others。
　〃What　is　it；　Skeeve？〃　she　asked　as　we　moved　away　into　the　shadows。　〃Are　you　worried　about　Aahz？〃
　I　was；　though　I　didn't　want　to　admit　it　just　yet。　The　night　was　almost　gone　with　no　signs　of　movement　or　activity　from　the　pavilion。　Still；　I　clung　to　my　faith　in　Aahz。　When　that　failed；　I　turned　my　mind　to　other　exercises　to　distract　it　from　fruitless　worry。
　〃Aahz　can　take　care　of　himself；〃　I　said　gruffly。
　〃There's　something　else　I　wanted　your　opinion　on。〃
　〃What's　that？〃　she　asked；　cocking　her　head。
　〃As　you　know；〃　I　began　pompously；　〃I　am　unable　to　see　the　disguise　spells　I　cast。　Though　everyone　else　is　fooled；　as　the　originator　of　the　spell；　I　still　continue　to　see　things　in　their　true　form。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　that；〃　she　mented。　〃But　continue。〃
　〃Well；〃　I　explained；　〃I　was　thinking　that　if　we　actually　have　to　fight　the　army；　we　could　use　additional　troops。　I've　got　an　idea；　but　I　need　you　to　tell　me　if　it　actually　works。〃
　〃Okay；〃　she　nodded。　〃What　is　it？〃
　I　started　to　resume　my　oration；　then　realized　I　was　merely　stalling。　Instead；　I　closed　my　eyes　and　focused　my　mind　on　the　small　grove　of　trees　ahead。
　〃Hey！〃　cried　Tanda。　〃That's　terrific。〃
　I　opened　my　eyes；　being　careful　to　maintain　the　spell。
　〃What　do　you　see？〃　I　asked　nervously。
　〃A　whole　pack　of　demons　。　。　。　oops　。　。　。　I　mean　Perverts；〃　she　reported　gaily。　〃Bristling　with　swords　and　spears。　That's　wild！〃
　It　worked。　I　was　correct　when　I　guessed　that　my　disguise　spell　could　work　on　any　living　thing；　not　just　men　and　beasts。
　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　it；〃　Tanda　marveled。　〃Can　you　make　them　move？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　admitted。　〃I　just…〃
　〃Boss！　Hey；　Boss！〃　Brockhurst　shouted；　sprinting　up　to　us。　〃e　quick！　You'd　better　see　this！〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　I　called；　but　the　Imp　had　reversed　his　course　and　was　headed　for　the　tree　line。
　A　sudden　fear　clutched　at　my　heart。
　〃C'mon；　Tanda；〃　I　growled　and　started　off。
　By　the　time　we　reached　the　tree　line　the　whole；　team　was　assembled　there；　talking　excitedly　among　themselves。
　〃What　is　it？〃　I　barked；　joining　them。
　The　group　fell　silent；　avoiding　my　eyes。　Brockhurst　lifted　a　hand　and　pointed　across　the　meadow。
　There；　silhouetted　against　a　huge　bonfire　was　Aahz；　hanging　by　his　neck　from　a　crude　gallows。　His　body　was　limp　and　lifeless　as　he　rotated　slowly　at　the　end　of　the　rope。　At　his　feet；　a　group　of　soldiers　were　gathered　to　witness　the　spectacle。
　Relief　flooded　over　me；　and　I　began　to　giggle　hysterically。　Hanging！　If　only　they　know！
　Alarm　showed　in　the　faces　of　my　team　as　they　studied　my　reaction　in　shocked　silence。
　〃Don't　worry！〃　I　gasped。　〃He's　okay！〃
　Early　in　my　career　with　Aahz；　I　had　learned　that　one　doesn't　kill　demons　by　hanging　them。　Their　neck　muscles　are　too　strong！　They　can　hang　all　day　without　being　any　the　worse　for　wear。　I　had；　of　course；　learned　this　the　hard　way　one　day　when　we　。。。。
　〃At　least　they　have　the　decency　to　burn　the　body；〃　Claude　murmured　from　close　beside　me。
　My　laughter　died　in　my　throat。
　〃What？〃　I　cried；　spinning　around。
　Sure　enough；　the　soldiers　had　cut　down　Aahz's　〃body〃　and　were　carrying　it　toward　the　bonfire　with　the　obvious　intention　of　throwing　it　in。
　Fire！　That　was　a　different　story。　Fire　was　one　of　the　things　that　could　kill　Aahz　deader　than　。。。。
　〃Ajax！〃　I　cried。　〃Quick！　Stop　them　from…〃
　It　was　too　late。
　With　a　heave　from　the　soldiers；　Aahz　arched　into　the　roaring　flames。　There　was　a　quick　burst　of　light；　then　nothing。
　Gone！　Aahz！
　I　stood　staring　at　the　bonfire　in　disbelief。　Shock　numbed　me　to　everything　else　as　my　mind　reeled　at　the　impact　of　my　loss。
　〃Skeeve！〃　Tanda　said　in　my　ear；　laying　a　hand　on　my　shoulder。
　〃Leave　me　alone！〃　I　croaked。
　〃But　the　army。　。　。〃
　She　let　the　word　trail　off；　but　it　made　its　impact。　Slowly　I　became　conscious　of　the　world　around　me。
　The　legions；　having　given　us　our　answer；　were　massing　for　battle。　Drums　boomed；　heralding　the　rising　sun　as　it　reflected　off　the　polished　weapons　arrayed　to　face　us。
　The　army。　They　had　done　this！
　With　deliberate　slowness　I　turned　to　face　Claude。　He　recoiled　in　fear　from　my　gaze。
　〃Remember！〃　he　cried　desperately。　〃I　had　nothing　to…〃
　〃I　remember；〃　I　replied　coldly。　〃And　for　that　reason　only　I　am　letting　you　go。　I　would　advise；　however；　that　you　choose　a　path　to　follow　other　than　rejoining　the　army。　I　have　tried　to　be　gentle　with　them；　but　if　they　insist　on　having　war；　as　I　am　Skeeve；　we　shall　give　it　to　them！〃
　
　Chapter　Twenty…Three
　〃What　is　this；　a　Chinese　fire　drill？〃
　…SUN　TZU
　
　I　didn't　see　where　Claude　went　after　I　finished　speaking　with　him；　nor　did　I　care。　I　was　studying　the　opposing　army　with　a　new　eye。　Up　to　now　I　had　been　thinking　defensively；　planning　for　survival。　Now　I　was　thinking　as　the　aggressor。
　The　legions　were　in　tight　block　formations；　arrayed　some　three　or　four　blocks　deep　and　perhaps　fifteen　blocks　wide。　Together　they　presented　an　awesome　impression　of　power；　an　irresistible　force　that　would　never　retreat。
　That　suited　me　fine。　In　fact；　I　wanted　a　little　insurance　that　they　would　not　retreat。
　〃Ajax！〃　I　called　without　turning　my　head。
　〃Here；　youngster！〃　the　bowman　replied　from　close　beside　me。
　〃Can　Blackie　send　your　arrows　out　beyond　those　formations？〃
　〃I　reckon　so；〃　he　drawled。
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said　grimly。　〃The　same　drill　as　the　first　battle；　only　this　time　don't　go　for　the　wagons。　I　want　a　half　circle　of　fire　around　their　rear。〃
　As　before；　the　bowstring　set　up　a　rhythmic　〃thung〃　as　the　bowman　began　to