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〃What made 'em go like that？〃
〃Happens all the time。。。〃
Dirk's ears pricked up。 〃Happens all the time？〃 What illicit operations were the prisoners covering up？
Then he saw the earthenware bowls they were all shuffling back toward； saw the thin gruel they contained； and understood。 Not covering up anything。 Just a food riot。
The prisoners were sitting down on the filth…strewn floor and taking up their bowls。 Dirk's gaze zeroed in on the huge bulk of one man still standing…Gar。 Dirk started toward him。
The steel door crashed open； and a monolithic guard strolled in； absentmindedly flicking a bullwhip。 〃All right； you hoghounds！ You hate your grub so much； we won't make you eat it。 Line up and file out…well start the afternoon session a little bit early。〃
The prisoners bellowed profanity with one voice and rose up； arms swinging back with bowls poised。 The bullwhip cracked like a gunshot； building echoes into a cannonade。
When the echoes faded； the prisoners were standing slack； facing the guard。
〃You'll all be dead in less than a week。 What difference does it make if you go a little early？〃
The bullwhip twitched。
The prisoners were silent； eyes glued to the flicking tip。
The guard nodded； satisfied。 〃All right； then。 Line up。〃
They put their bowls down and queued up in a silent； dispirited line。 Gar waited till the others had shuffled into position； then tailed onto the end of the line。
He would； Dirk thought。 He couldn't have said why； but it seemed in keeping with Gar's character。
Dirk moved out of the shadows and slid up behind Gar。 He reached up and tapped the giant's shoulder。 Gar turned around with a slight smile of polite amusement…and froze； staring down in disbelief。
Dirk had to press his lips tight to squelch a laugh。 It felt good to be one up on the big guy for a change。
Gar recovered； and smoothed the urbane smile back on。
〃Delightful。 I trust you'll explain how you managed it？〃
Dirk frowned。 〃Managed what？〃
〃Being so nimble。 You must remember that； when I saw you last； you were scarcely in any condition to be walking about。 In fact； if I remember it rightly； you weren't even in condition to breathe。〃
〃Oh。〃 Dirk pursed his lips。 〃Well； I don't know。 Matter of fact； I was hoping you could tell me。〃
He saw the flicker in Gar's eyes and knew he'd struck pay dirt。 But then why the look of shock when Gar saw him？
Acting； of course…and not a bad job； either。 But why？ What was the big guy trying to hide？
〃How did you manage my 'death'？〃 Dirk murmured。
〃I？〃 Gar's eyebrows shot up in mock horror。 〃My dear fellow； how could I have had anything to do with it？〃
〃I was hoping you'd explain that。〃
Gar frowned； but just then they came up to the door； and he had to cut off the conversation to turn and file through。 Dirk stepped through right behind him； and a pair of boxing gloves slapped him in the midriff。 His belly sucked in with the slap； and he looked up into the eyes of the guard who had let him in。 There was a grim warning in the man's eyes。 Dirk straightened up and shuffled ahead。
〃Put them on；〃 Gar muttered over his shoulder。 〃These are just for practice； they tell us well get really nice ones for the big day…lined with lead and faced with iron。〃
〃Glorified brass knuckles；〃 Dirk growled； slipping the boxing gloves on。。。
They filed through a second door into a vast； slant…roofed room。 The other churls had already paired off； trading half…hearted swipes。
〃Not brass knuckles； really。〃 Gar turned to face Dirk； bringing up his gloves。 〃Cestas…the iron boxing gloves the Roman gladiators wore。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃Probably straight out of a history book。 They have a penchant for that kind of thing。〃 He eyed Gar's huge； leather…covered fists and brought his own up warily。 A corner of his mind wondered why Gar was being so very polite。 Defense mechanism； certainly…but what was Gar hiding？
Then a leather…covered cannonball drove at his face； and he had to stop thinking to slap it aside。
It didn't slap too well。 In fact； it drove right on through and slammed the side of his head。 Dirk staggered back； shaking his head to clear the distorted glass that had suddenly e between him and the world。
〃Sorry；〃 Gar muttered； 〃but we have to make it look half…way good； or they're on us with the whips。〃
Dirk glanced at the guards strolling around the edge of the room； bullwhips snaking lazily behind them。 〃Perfectly all right。 I just haven't quite gotten into the spirit of the thing。〃
If that was Gar's idea of halfway good； Dirk was definitely going to have to go all out。
He jabbed at Gar's face。 The giant blocked it； moving so quickly Dirk scarcely saw it。 Then the leather cannonball was in his face again。 He threw all his strength into a block and was partly successful； the glove whistled past his ear。 But Gar's left was already booking up。 Dirk rolled back by pure reflex； just barely in time。
〃Nothing wrong with your coordination。〃 He came back with his guard up。
Gar smiled。 〃Yes； that's the mistake people usually make…because I'm so big； they expect me to be clumsy。 But you're not bad； yourself…you're the only one here I haven't been able to hit when I wanted to。〃
Startled； Dirk stared； then glanced quickly at the other prisoners。 A few of them were taller than he was； well…muscled and lithe。
〃It seems they don't know much about boxing；〃 Gar explained。 〃Only what they've learned since they've been here。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃Of course。 The Lords won't allow churls to learn or teach anything to do with bat； even the unarmed kind。 Anyone caught trying to work out a system on his own。。。〃
〃。。。 is sent here；〃 Gar finished grimly。 〃Yes； I know。 I've had some highly elucidating conversations in the last few days。 Surprisingly good； really…they all show an amazing degree of intelligence。〃
Dirk gave him a malicious smile。 〃Feeling inferior？〃
Gar's smile became a glare。
One of the guards caught sight of them and started over； gathering in his whip。
〃Too much talk and not enough action；〃 Gar growled and swung a haymaker。
It was easy to block； and for the hell of it； Dirk tried。 He caught Gar's swing； all right； just before it caught him。 But he did have the satisfaction of seeing the guard turn away； mollified。 He saw it from a very low angle； with sand against his cheek and a ringing in his ears。
He pulled himself to his feet； shaking his head； and found Gar gazing at him in consternation。 Dirk's lips thinned。 〃Now you're going to try and tell me that wasn't full strength。〃
〃It wasn't。 I'm sorry； I guess I'd better pull my punches a bit more。〃
Dirk just stared at him。 Then he nodded。 〃Yes。 Please do。 If you expect me to be any use to you at all。〃
〃Use？〃 Gar frowned； jabbing lightly。
Dirk ducked…no more of this blocking nonsense。 〃Yes； use。 I came in here to help you break out。 What'd you think I was doing…taking a break from a busy schedule？〃 He tried an uppercut。
Gar blocked it absentmindedly