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The god of the four arms screamed too； in pain； not triumph； and pulled back a badly mangled hand。 The injured god ran reeling； devastating small buildings as he crashed into them。 His screams continued without pause； as his bounding； bouncing flight took him away to the city walls again； and over the walls and out of sight。
〃Hah； the fool！〃 Vulcan grumbled to himself in satisfaction。 〃Now I'll take that Sword too。 Or else see it destroyed； like the other。〃
He stepped close to the man on the roof； and slashed quickly with the Sword of Force； right to left and back again。 With the motion of his arm his right fist struck a corner of the building； close to the part of the roof where the man was standing。 As the two Swords came in contact； and the Sword of Fury disappeared in another explosive flash； the building opened up under the impact of Vulcan's fist； and the man who had been holding Townsaver dropped down inside the walls； disappearing in a cloud of dust and a small landslide of debris。
〃That must have been Townsaver； by its voice。。。 but； by the Spear of Mars； it's gone now too！ Damnation to all human vermin who destroy my property！ But there may be other Swords in this nest。 He who told me said more than one。〃
Vulcan considered the battered structure； its roof terrace gaping at the corner where his fist had struck； its lower floors blackened on the outside and still smoldering where someone had earlier tried an assault by fire。 It would be easy enough to pull the house down； but it would be awkward to sift the whole pile of wreckage for his Swords afterward。 No。
After taking thought for a few more moments； the Smith shrank himself once more； this time to little more than human size。 Now he ought to be able to enter most of their rooms and passages。 The shrinkage of course left his strength undiminished； and had the extra advantage of making it easier for him to grip Shieldbreaker's merely man…sized hilt。
He kept the Sword of Force in hand and ready； just in case the building when entered might contain surprises。
There was no need to kick the front door in； someone had already taken care of that。 Inside； he encountered first a pile of ugly human dead； nothing that he wanted there。 He could tell now that there were some live ones also present in the building； but so far they were all trying to hide from him。 It didn't matter what they did。 He'd seek out what he wanted。
This was some kind of human workshop here。 It was well stocked with weapons； but none of divine manufacture。
The Smith shouted： 〃You might as well bring them out to me！ I forged them； all of them； and they are mine！〃
Next he kicked open a wall； behind which； his senses told him； there was some kind of a hidden door； but all he uncovered； all that had been hidden here for safety； were a plump human girl and the small child she was trying to shelter。
〃Hah！ This is their treasure？〃 The ways and thoughts of humankind were sometimes small beneath all Vulcan's prehension。
Now a light weight of some kind fell from some where to land on Vulcan's neck； and it took him a moment to realize that it was in fact a living human body。 A man had just jumped deliberately upon him； from above and behind。 A lone man； whose weaponless arms； looked around Vulcan's mighty neck； were straining in an evident effort to strangle him。
The god laughed at this puny assault； laughed at it； when he got around to noticing it for what it was。 At first it did not even distract him fully from his search。 The Swords； the Swords。。。 there ought to be at least one more of them around here somewhere。。。
He would have them all； or he would destroy them all； to perfect and insure his ultimate power over the other gods and goddesses。 So； they thought the Game had been abandoned； did they？ Well； it was over now； or very nearly over。 But not abandoned。 No。 He； the Smith； the cripple； was winning it； he had almost won。。。 and； just to be sure of course； he needed the Swords to perfect his power over men and women too。 He wanted at some time to be able to put Shieldbreaker down and rest； but he thought that time would not e while even one of the other eleven remained in other hands than his； or unaccounted for。
He had turned away from the girl and the baby； ignoring them even as he forgot the rag of living human flesh that was a large； strong man still hanging on his neck。 He would brush that away the next time that he thought of it。
Now Vulcan's progress was blocked by a strong； closed door； and he grabbed with his free hand at a projecting corner of the doorframe； intending to tear the whole framework loose。
But he met startling resistance。 Here was mere wood and stone； and of no heroic dimensions； refusing to yield to him。
Still； such was the Smith's impatience that his first concern was still getting through the door； and not wondering why he could not。 Instinctively he used Shieldbreaker on the door； which now gave way quite satisfactorily。
Irritated by the delay； and more so by the fact that the room uncovered this time was empty； Vulcan became more fully aware of another irritation； the man who was still hanging on his back。 The god； reaching back with his free hand to peel the annoyance off； achieved a belated recognition。
〃What's this； human？ Grown back your right arm； have you； since last we met？ Well； we can fix that。。。〃
But for some reason the puny human body would not peel free。 Applying the best grip that he could one…handed； without setting Shieldbreaker down； Vulcan again had the curious sensation of being almost powerless。 The link of those two human arms that held him would not part。
It was almost as if the chronic lameness in his leg was growing worse； spreading to other parts of his body。 The Smith did not care in the least for the sensation of being without strength。 It was being really alarming。 Not only a stone wall； a wooden door； but even flesh was able to resist him now。
While all the time； in his right hand which felt stronger than ever； the limitless power of Shieldbreaker tapped out its readiness to be used。
〃。。。 we can fix that like this。。。〃
And Vulcan； reaching behind himself somewhat awkwardly with the Sword； moved it to cut loose the clinging human flesh。 Awkward； yes。 His hands that had worked with divine skill to forge this weapon and its peers felt clumsy now when he tried to use it behind his back。
〃Aaahrr！〃 All he had acplished was to wound himself slightly in the neck。 He aimed his next blind cut more cautiously there。
That time； Vulcan assured himself； the Sword had； it must have； passed right through the body of the clinging man。 The trouble was that the man still clung on as tight as ever； giving no indication of being killed。 The muscles of those human arms even tightened a little more。 Their force should have been inconsequential in terms of what was needed to choke a god； but Vulcan imagined that his own breathing had bee a shade more difficult； enough to be annoying； anyway。
Why was he； a god； worrying about breathing？ But suddenly it seemed to matter。
The human's mortal breath； gasping with exertion but still full of life； sawed in Vulcan's ear。 〃I was there with you when you for