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. Why do they call you Captain? asked Aemilianus. He commanded on the wall! cried a man.I remember him from the wall.He hadbeen there. It was you who held the wall so long? asked Aemilianus.Page 189 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html I and a couple of hundred of your stout fellows, like these, I said,indicating the elated young men at my side. There are Cosians on the interior walls, overlooking the landing, said aman.I looked up.I saw them.Some had their helmets off, (pg.309) cooling theirheads in the breeze, more to be felt at that height. They can fire into the crowd, said a man. But they have not done so, said another. They are waiting for the camp commander, said another. I will not go to Cos, naked in a cage, said Aemilianus to one of his men,one of the two who had stayed with him. At the end, then, you know what todo. As you will, Commander, he said, his voice thick with emotion.file:///F|/My%20Shared%20Folder/John%20Nor.20Gor%2023%20-%20Renegades%20of%20Gor.html (275 of 399) [1/21/03 7:54:43 PM]23 Renegades of Gor How many are here? I asked one of the fellows about.The landing was packedwith women and children.More were out on the piers. Who knows? he asked. I think there must be two to three thousand women andchildren, and perhaps some four to five hundred men.I do not know. Of all the people of Ar s Station? I asked. Some fled months ago, he said, some even when it was learned the Cosianshad landed at Brundisium, others when it was rumored they were marching onAr s Station.Many escaped before the investment lines were closed.Somebought their way out, which you could do, in the early days, before the Cosiancasualties were high. Still, I said, there must have been thousands in the city when theinvestment lines were closed. There were, he said, bitterly. And this is all that is left? I asked. There were desertions, he said. Still, I said. Many perished of hunger or disease, he said. Doubtless, too, many perishedin the fires. I regarded him. Many could not reach the citadel, he said. Many streets were cut off, evendistricts. I understand, I said. Why did the relief of Ar not come? he asked. I do not know, I told him, though I thought I knew. It is said the Cosians did much butchery in the city. Perhaps, I granted him. Beneath the walls of the citadel, he said, they paraded (pg.310) lootcarts, and lines of our women, stripped, and trussed as slaves. I nodded.I had not been able to see this from the cell, of course, but I didnot doubt but what it was true.It was a touch not untypically Gorean. Doubtless even now hundreds of them are packed behind the bar of cage wagons,being taken to Brundisium, there to be shaved, and then shackled on the tieredshelves of slave ships, to be embarked for Cos and Tyros. Perhaps, I said.In actuality, of course, I surmised that many would befile:///F|/My%20Shared%20Folder/John%20Nor.20Gor%2023%20-%20Renegades%20of%20Gor.html (276 of 399) [1/21/03 7:54:43 PM]23 Renegades of Gor distributed to continental markets, if only to take aquicker profit on them and avoid deflating the market on the islands.I didnot doubt, however, that many of the most beautiful would indeed find theirway to Cos and Tyros, if only as examples of prize loot.Such, too, might wellPage 190 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlgrace the triumphs of the victors.Beautiful, naked women look well being marched in golden chains before the warbeasts of masters.Doubtless many would march before Lurius of Jad, Ubar ofCos, in some grand triumph, though in the fighting he would not have stirredfrom his palace in Telnus. Still, he said, there are many here. Yes, I said, looking about, at the crowded landing, and the piers out towardthe river. There are. It will be a terrible slaughter, he said.Aemilianus was sitting on the landing near me.A man supported him, holdinghim about the shoulders.I looked up at the interior wall. Commander, I said to him, many of your people are within missile range fromthe wall. Indeed, it would be hard to fire into the crowd without scoring a hit. I am tired, he said. Many are afraid to go to the piers, said a man. They are afraid of theCosian ships, that the walls of rafts will be opened, that they will attack.They fear to leave the landing, the shelter of the wall of the citadel. What shelter? I asked, angrily. Many others, said a fellow, fear to tread the walkway. There are sharks about, said one man. See the fins in the water, said another. There, there are two! (pg.311) Blood has carried down to the delta, said another bitterly. Riversharks have come from as far west as Turmus.The bodies of delta sharks,leaving the salt water of the delta, bloated, litter the shores between thedelta and Ven. There is even a greater reason to avoid the walkway, said another man,bitterly. What is that? I asked.He did not explain himself.Suddenly Aemilianus looked at me. What did you say? he asked.I crouched down beside him.file:///F|/My%20Shared%20Folder/John%20Nor.20Gor%2023%20-%20Renegades%20of%20Gor.html (277 of 399) [1/21/03 7:54:43 PM]23 Renegades of Gor Move your people out to the piers, I said. The walkway can be destroyedbehind them.Then the Cosians can approach only by water. There is no food there, said a man. There is none here either, I said. It makes no difference, said Aemilianus, wearily. It is the militarily appropriate action, I said. It is hard to see, he said, suddenly. Make a litter, I said. Carry the commander to the piers. I have a net, said a fellow.Two spears were thrust through the net, about two feet apart, and Aemilianuswas placed on it.He opened his eyes. There are Cosians on the wall! he said. They have been there, I said. Why have the people not been withdrawn to the piers? he asked. The orders have not been issued, I said. Where is Marcus Tulvinius? he asked. Here, said an officer. Withdraw to the piers, he said. It cannot be done, he said.Aemilianus struggled to focus his eyes on him. The walkway has been interdicted, he said. The people on the piers made itPage 191 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthere earlier, before the Cosians came to the inner wall.You can see thebodies of some of those who tried it later.Make a move toward it, and it willcovered by a hundred crossbows. (pg.312) It seems, said Aemilianus, that we may choose to die here, orthere. I would choose to make matters less convenient for Cosians, I said.Aemilianus smiled. The situation is hopeless, said the officer. I shall treat for terms. With Cosians? smiled Aemilianus
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Tematy
IndexJohn Ringo Ghost 01 Ghost
John DeChancie Castle 07 Castle Spellbound
John Dalmas Farside 01 The Lion of Farside
John Betancourt Dawn of Amber 1 Dawn of Amder
Black Elk Speaks Being the Life Story of A Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux as told to John G Neihardt
John Ruston Pagan Anne Orthwood's Bastard, Sex and Law in Early Virginia (2002)
Gribbin John & White Michael W poszukiwaniu kota Schrödingera realizm w fizyce kwantowej
John Connolly Charlie Parker 04 The White Road (com v4.0) (lit)
Roberts John Maddox Nova Roma 01 Operacja Marka Scypiona (2)
Zelazny Roger Widmowy Jack