Rebels of Gor Read Free Page B

into the holding and discover, to their dismay, only death and honor, we have cheated them of their victory; they will be awed and the victory will be ours. That would be a grand gesture, an act that would be retold about the fires for a thousand years.”
    “I trust you will be the first to use the knife,” said Lord Nishida.
    “Of course,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “I do not think all men are heroes,” I said.
    “Some are not,” said Lord Okimoto. “They may be attended to.”
    “Not all agree on what is heroic,” I said.
    “Those who do not may be attended to,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “I fear our noble friend, Lord Okimoto,” said Lord Nishida, “is unduly pessimistic. Perhaps he has drafted a poem or painted a screen to that effect.”
    “One takes comfort as one can,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “All may not be lost,” said Lord Nishida. “I do not think the iron dragon has yet spread its wings.”
    “The enemy is many, and, comparatively, we are few,” said Lord Okimoto. “We have lost in the field. The tarn cavalry, on which we were to rely for victory, has been discovered, surprised, and put to rout. It is little more than a third of its original strength, little more than a third of even what survived the voyage onto the homeland.”
    “And even more would have been lost,” said Lord Nishida, “were it not for the precautions of our fellow, Tarl Cabot, tarnsman, who maintained a complement in constant readiness.”
    “So some might escape,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “And would there had been more,” said Lord Nishida.
    “It seems” I said, “the location of the camp was known, and we failed to detect the approach of the enemy.”
    “I wonder how that could be,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “Would you care to speak more clearly, noble lord,” I said.
    “Nothing speaks more clearly than steel,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “If you wish,” I said, “we may continue this conversation so.”
    “It is often wise, noble friends,” said Lord Nishida, “to think carefully before one speaks, particularly if one would speak with steel.”
    “It is so, of course,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “If you wish,” I said, “I shall resign my command.”
    “The men,” said Pertinax, angrily, “will follow no other!”
    “Your friend, the noble Pertinax, is impetuous,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “I suspect,” I said, “that the suspicions of Lord Okimoto, if misplaced, are well founded.”
    “I fear so,” said Lord Nishida, “even from Tarncamp, even from Shipcamp, even from the Alexandra, even from the voyage itself.”
    “The march of the exploratory probe was apparently well anticipated,” said Pertinax.
    “The splendid officer, fearful Tyrtaios, so wise in council, so adept with the sword,” said Lord Nishida, “has departed the holding, and placed his cunning and skills at the service of great Yamada.”
    “He could not have known the secret location of the cavalry camp,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “Others would know,” said Pertinax.
    “Such as yourself,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “Of course,” said Pertinax.
    “And your commander, to whom you seem so loyal,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “Yes,” I said, “and others.”
    “The fog lessens,” said Lord Nishida.
    “ Ela ,” said Lord Okimoto, “the commander should have sought safety earlier, his departure unnoticed in the fog. Who knows what dangers he might face, did he remain here.”
    “The commander’s place is with the cavalry,” said Lord Nishida.
    “True,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “Yet obscurity persists,” said Lord Okimoto, “soft ribbons of fog, and drifting cloud, embracing the castle.”
    “I shall await darkness,” I said.
    “But an assault might be made before dusk,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “I shall await darkness,” I said.
    “There will then be less danger of arrow fire,” said Lord Okimoto.
    “Following Lord Temmu,” I said, “the existence of tarns is to be concealed, insofar as possible, from the enemy, at least from large