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border mountains that overlooked Allic's realm. The room again became dark as
his aura slowly died, his frustration giving way to the cold analytical force
that was the heart of his power.
"Allic is projecting his power in a field of interference so I can't see very
much," he said to Ralnath, who had come to stand by his side. "But I sense an
alien presence, perhaps men from another plane. They're definitely not the
demons we had planned for."
He looked coldly at Ralnath. "Which of our forces can get in there and find
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out what they are before Allic arrives?"
The head scribe, standing in the far corner, consulted his master file and
nervously walked over.
"At this moment," the scribe said, "we've almost emptied that part of the
border to prevent any possible suspicion of our involvement. But there is a
force of twelve demons under Chaka that can be there within two turnings."
"Send them in immediately, I want at least one prisoner for interrogation; the
rest are to be destroyed before Allic can get his hands on them."
"At once, my lord."
Sarnak turned and swept them with his gaze.
"All of you leave me except Ralnath."
Ralnath could sense the relief of the others as they fled the room, leaving
him to his fate. He could remember more than once hurrying from the room as
well, and returning later to remove what was left of a man or woman who had
failed. He braced himself.
"I want Wika relieved of his post and crystals. Have him chained to the
gallows against possible
execution. I'll decide his fate later." Sarnak paused, staring at Ralnath.
"You know that my first move in this campaign has ended in a fiasco because
you approved that idiot's selection of sorcerers?"
Ralnath nodded. "My lord, each had done well in the trials, according to
Wika's reports."
"I want you to check the validity of those trials, and if there is any
falsification you will personally remove the heads of Wika's wife and children
and tie them to his chains. I can't help but suspect that he gave the task to
Mornan as a reward for more than just her behavior on the testing field."
Ralnath breathed an inner sigh of relief. The blame was to fall on Wika and
not on him.
"Ralnath, I understand your mistress has just given you twin sons."
He froze for a moment, then nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
"Never fail me again, Ralnath. Now get out of my sight."
"Gather round to me." Mark made a quick count.
"Who's missing?"
"It's Jose", Captain," Kochanski called. "He's unconscious." And he pointed to
the ground where Jose was already covered with somebody's flight jacket. The
pale moonlight made his face look deathly. Mark looked up, and gasped. There
were two moons--very bright and set about twenty degrees apart."
The men followed his gaze, and began shouting again.
"Shut up, all of you!"
The only thing that kept Mark from blind panic was the responsibility that by
now was part of his nature.
He had to get his people doing something--anything--to divert them from their
fear.
The orders rattled off.
"Goldberg, see to Jose, and try to make him comfortable. Kraut, set up a
defensive perimeter. I don't know where the hell we are, but we'd best be
prepared."
"Could be Mars," Kochanski ventured.
Several of the men started to talk again. In the distance he could hear the
same with the Japanese. Hell, there were still the Japs to deal with.
"What do you mean, Mars?"
"Ever read any Burroughs? Twin moons, Carter, Martian princess, and all that?"
"Later, Kochanski, later. Just do what I've told you for now."
Mark looked towards Ikawa and saw that he already had his men lined up and was
speaking to them in a low voice.
Several of them broke away and fanned out into the darkness.
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Mark turned back to his men.
"Kochanski, Smith, Welsh," his voice lowered to a whisper. "Watch the Japs,
especially Ikawa and that other officer, you know the bastard." He started to
move but turned back. "And for god's sake, if they open up, knock out that
machine gun first or we're all dead."
The men nodded, their faces shining softly in the light.
"On my command, and my command only, you're to take them out. Now that the
Chinese are gone..."
His voice trailed off. Gone. Gone to where? He forced himself to re-focus his
attention.
"Just keep a watch on them."
"Captain Ikawa." Mark turned away from his men and prepared for the possible
showdown with their captors.
"Private Yoshida, control yourself!"
Any other officer would have slapped Yoshida for the nearly hysterical
display, but Ikawa could well understand it. He could barely control his own
fear.
"We are not dead, Yoshida! We are still alive." Ikawa forced a laugh, and gave
Shigeru, the sumo wrestler, a sharp punch in the stomach.
Shigeru grunted.
"See: If old Shigeru here can still feel pain, then you know we are still in
the realm of the living."
He patted Shigeru on the shoulder and turned away. They had relaxed just a
little and he took advantage of it.
"Sergeant Nobuaki, pick five men and form a defensive perimeter. Sergeant
Saito, come over here with me for a moment."
He stepped back from his men so they couldn't hear. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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