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Gar blocked it absentmindedly。 〃I took it for granted they'd caught you。 Well…my thanks。〃
Dirk smiled sardonically。 〃Did you think we were going to leave you in here to get killed？〃
〃Frankly； yes。 I'm not exactly a key figure in your plans； you know。 I didn't suspect you of so much sentiment。〃
Dirk's smile turned sour。 〃I wouldn't call loyalty a sentiment。〃
〃But I would；〃 Gar glanced at their local efficiency expert and threw a punch。 Dirk leaned back for it； but not far enough。 As he picked himself up off the sand； he heard Gar muttering； 〃If revolutionaries take time for luxuries like loyalty； they lose。〃
〃Not always。 Sometimes they save a valuable man。〃 Dirk lashed out with all his strength。
Gar batted it aside impatiently。 〃Only by risking another one…or several。 I don't know how elaborate this scheme of yours is。 In addition to which； it tips off the opposition。〃 He swung another haymaker。
Dirk dropped to a squat and felt the breeze as Gar's fist went by。 〃It's nice of you to be so concerned； but don't worry； we'll try to make it look like a plain； ordinary； everyday riot that got out of hand。〃 He lifted his fist and drove up like a ramrod。
Gar caught his wrist and lifted； Dirk's face hovered in front of his。 〃How often do riots happen at these Games？〃
〃Never；〃 Dirk admitted； 〃but we feel obliged to go out of our way for a visitor。〃
〃So thoughtful of you；〃 Gar murmured； and let go。
Dirk landed in a crouch and danced around Gar； weaving in and out。
〃Be careful；〃 Gar admonished； turning to follow him。 〃You'll make me feel like a V。I。P。〃
〃Well； there is something to that。 We do feel a certain responsibility for you。〃
〃Of course；〃 Gar murmured。 〃You wouldn't want my father to feel you'd been careless with me。〃
〃That； too。〃 Dirk leaped in； feinting with his right。 Gar blocked it； and Dirk hooked with the left； caught him under the chin。 Gar's head snapped back and Dirk bounced out； feeling a warm glow of acplishment spreading through him。
Then he bounced…period。 He shook his head and saw Gar looking sheepish； but he couldn't hear what the big man was saying。 His ears were ringing too loudly。
〃。。。 just a natural reaction；〃 Gar apologized； as the ringing faded。
Dirk nodded； though groggily。 〃That's okay…we all have our conditioned responses。 And judging from yours； we should find you very useful。〃
Gar shook his head。 〃Not enough to justify the first escape from the Games in your history。 I'm just another fighter； albeit a good one。〃 His smile was tinged with irony。 〃As to my father…do you even know who he is？〃
〃Only that he's rich enough to give you your own space yacht； and has time to go bumming around the galaxy…unless there's some truth to that line you fed Core。〃
Gar's eyebrows shot up。 〃Your intelligence system isn't too bad。 And yes； there's some truth to it。 I am a d'Armand； but have you ever even heard of Maxima？〃
Dirk scowled。 〃Yes； some。 That's the robot house； isn't it？〃
〃Well；〃 Gar said judiciously； 〃the automated factories there do make very good robots。 But I wouldn't say that was a tremendous distinction。〃
〃Enough。〃 Dirk hid a smile。 〃I should imagine it's a very lucrative trade。〃
〃Somewhat；〃 Gar admitted。 〃Enough for everyone there to live in some luxury…but not enough for private yachts。〃 He jabbed halfheartedly。
Dirk leaned aside from it。 〃Where did you get the money？〃
〃On my own。〃 Gar wore a puckered smile。 〃There are certain kinds of salvage that pay very high figures…especially if you're a good cyberneticist。〃
〃Salvage？〃 Dirk hoped his dismay didn't show。
But it did。 Gar's smile went flat。 〃Salvage。 Yes。 Tm a junkman。 So you see； your whole charade is a waste。〃
〃No；〃 Dirk said slowly； looking straight into his eyes； 〃I think it'll prove to be very much worth it。 You're still you； you know。〃
Gar's gaze held steady； but his face drained。
Sandals slapped earth； and the guard came toward them。 Gar glanced at him； irritated； then his fist lashed out； blocking the world； and Dirk had the rest of the afternoon off。
So it went…boxing practice all morning and all afternoon； with brief breaks for meals； then doused torches and deep； almost drugged sleep。 The prisoners gained some skill； but they made up for it in increasing exhaustion。
〃If they keep this up； they'll be easy meat for a pussycat；〃 Gar growled over his evening bit of porridge。
Dirk nodded； swallowing。 〃I think the Lords're aware of that。〃
〃But we'll look excellent for ten minutes；〃 the Butler next to Dirk said brightly。
〃Yes indeed。〃 A Tradesman finished licking his bowl and lay flat on his back in front of them。 〃For the first ten minutes； our good brother churls will see a real battle。 Then we'll weaken； and the young Lords'll gain an advantage； then more and more…and our kinsmen will see the Lords triumph slowly but surely； as men of their birth must inevitably do。〃
〃Yes。〃 The Merchant on Gar's far side rubbed his knuckles； smiling softly。 〃But those first ten minutes 。 。 。 Who knows？ I might even cave in a helmet。〃
〃Never happen。〃 A Farmer ambled up； shaking his head。 〃No man's strong enough； by the time they get you to the games。〃
〃No ordinary man。〃 The Tradesman cocked an eyebrow at Gar。 〃But we're counting on you； friend。〃
Gar gazed at him a moment； then he smiled wolfishly； 〃I think I may give you some slight satisfaction。〃
The words induced a prickle of warning in Dirk。 What did the big man have in mind？
〃 'May？'〃 A lantern…jawed Fisher sat on his heels between the Merchant's and the Tradesman's feet 〃Only 'may'？ Is that the best you can offer us？〃
Gar leaned his head back against the wall； smiling lazily。 〃What did you have in mind？〃
The Fisher shrugged。 〃A mild massacre； perhaps。 Fifteen or twenty Lords would do。〃
〃Twenty！ My two poor fists against plate armor and swords？ Twenty？〃
〃Your two poor fists will be leaded and steelshod；〃 a Woodsman pointed out； joining in。 〃And； too； I think we could promise you something of a diversion； allowing you ample time to develop a deep and meaningful relationship with any one opponent〃
Gar sighed； gazing up at the ceiling。 〃It's tempting； gentlemen。 Almost； I could let myself be persuaded to it。 But there's a small matter： my conscience。 It'd be needless blood…shed。〃
〃Conscience！〃 The Woodsman snorted； and a Hostler scowled。 〃Needless？ How can you think that？〃
Dirk glanced up and saw； with a shock of surprise； that most of the prisoners had gathered around them； and the last few stragglers were ing up。
Gar laced his fingers behind his head。 〃If what you say is true； well all die anyway； but all the lordlings will live。 So； if we kill any one of them； it's a death that needn't have happened。〃
〃There is a need for it；〃 the Butler assured him grimly； and the Hostler said； in a voice soft as flame； 〃We have a need for it； Outlander。 Great need。 We cannot accept death tamely； we cannot accept having our lives count for nothing。〃
Gar lifte