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Two hours later, Sumbavu was ready to depart. He stood with MacKi
“No, Father,” MacKi
“There is less chance they will attack me at night than by day,” the priest said. “In the dark they will not know that I have only the Temple soldiers, and they will be afraid.” He watched the setting moons in silence until darkness came over the plains.
“I leave you my blessing,” Sumbavu told MacKi
“Thank you, Father,” MacKi
“They’ll never make ten kilometers by morning,” Stark said. “Not the way they loaded themselves.”
“I thought the priest gave them reasonable loads,” Longway said. “They did not seem excessive.”
“Sure, but the Trader gave them the pick of the loot before they set out. Wasn’t a man there wasn’t carrying five, ten kilos of junk stripped off the dead or picked up in this camp.”
“That was generous of you,” Longway said. “Extraordinarily so.”
“There will be other loot,” MacKi
“We’ll have plenty chances to get rich, but they won’t. They’ve earned their share.”
“Or will,” Stark muttered. MacKi
“Best get some sleep,” MacKi
“I don’t really need it,” she laughed. “I ride a cart, remember?”
“Lady, you can sleep in that cart under way, you’ll be the greatest soldier’s wife ever lived,” Stark observed. “I’d rather walk, the way those things fall into every hole in the ground.”
Mary laughed, looked around furtively, then said, “You wouldn’t think the Empire would fall if we told them how to put springs in the carts, would you? But I guess it’s too late now.” She looked around her at the camp. The spear and shield troops were asleep in place around the perimeter, their shields propped up behind the palisade, pikes and spears ready at hand, while guards patrolled outside the perimeter. “I suppose I should start the breakfast fires. No rest for the cooks.”
“Don’t bother,” MacKi
“You’re dividing your force, Trader?” Longway asked. “That seems unreasonable. How long will you be gone?”
“One day should do it, one way or another. Don’t worry about it, Academician, we won’t leave you for long.”
“What is all this?” Mary asked. “There’s something strange going on here! I don’t think I like this at all.”
“Just get some rest,” MacKi
“Hal, what is wrong with him?” Mary asked. “There’s something going on, isn’t there?”
“Freelady, he doesn’t like what he’s had to do. I can’t say I like it much either, but we didn’t see any other way. Now do as he says and go to sleep. I reckon I’d better lie down a couple of hours myself.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE PRICE OF LOOT
“Time, Colonel.”
“Uh.” MacKi
“Hour before dawn,” Stark said. “Here.” He gave MacKi
Nathan drank gratefully. “Thanks.” He regretted again that there was neither coffee nor chickeest on Makassar. It might have been worse, he reflected. At least there was tea.
The night was dark. Both moons had set, and low clouds obscured most of the stars. The camp was invisible, but MacKi
He spoke to them in low tones. “I’m concerned about Father Sumbavu’s group,” he said. “We’ll take First and Second battalions and the knights out to cover them. The rest will stay here to guard the camp, with MacLean in charge. Be ready to march in ten minutes.”
“ Is it wise to divide the force?” MacLean asked.
“Wise or not, I’m doing it,” MacKi
“Sir,” MacLean answered.
“All right, move,” Stark said. He waited until the others had left. “Pretty good troops,” he said. “Not much protest at all. ’Course wi
When the troops were assembled, MacKi
When they were a kilometer from the camp MacKi
The sky turned gray, then crimson. When it was light enough to see men fifty meters away, Hal Stark caught up to MacKi
“We’ll need to,” MacKi
The sun was nearly up when Stark sent for MacKi
“Loaded as they were, they can’t be too far,” MacKi
They swung on in silence, now and again changing positions to send fresh men to lead the escorting flankers. It was hard work to break trail in the waist-high grass-like vegetation. The low hills of the plain closed around them, and MacKi
“Deploy the troops,” MacKi
The parallel columns split apart, angling out to form two lines, then continued their advance up the hill in silence. The men readied their weapons and helped each other sling their shields properly.