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e cannot accept death tamely； we cannot accept having our lives count for nothing。〃
Gar lifted an eyebrow。 〃So that's how you manage to stay so cheerful。 I was wondering。〃
The Farmer grinned like a handsaw。 〃What would be gained by moping and trembling？〃
But the Tradesman laughed and rolled up on one elbow。 〃Do not think we are so courageous as that； Outlander。 When I came here nearly a year ago； I was so sick with fear I could scarcely hold water。 But after a time； I began to see that I would have died young in any case； even if I had not been caught out〃
The Merchant nodded。 〃Only Lords die old； here。〃
〃I know the day of my death now； and that is all that has changed；〃 the Tradesman continued。 〃I might have had a day or two more otherwise； perhaps a year。。。。〃 For a moment； his face bleached to bleak； then he shrugged it off and grinned。 〃But never much longer…and I would have died with no purpose； with nothing acplished； nothing changed by my life so the world could look and say； 'Here！ Here is the sign that a man lived！' But now； here 。。。 I have purpose now； a chance to kill a lord。 Only a chance； perhaps； and a poor one…only steel gloves against sword and plate armor； with the sun in my eyes…but my chance nonetheless！ Any chance at all is more than I had before…and perhaps。。。〃 His voice sank low； caressing； he brought a band up； clenching it slowly。 〃Just possibly； I might； by some wild freak of chance； kill myself one of them。。。。〃 His fist clenched in a spasm； he nodded； eyes glistening。 〃Yes。 That is worth a death…even a certain one。〃
Gar had lost his smile。 His gaze held on the Tradesman； very steadily。
The Tradesman brayed laughter and threw himself flat on his back again。 〃Why； Nuncle！ Do I amaze you？〃 He rolled a droll eye at Gar。 〃I think you know nothing of hate。〃
〃I thought I did；〃 Gar said slowly。
〃Wele to school；〃 said the Hostler； amused。
Gar turned his head slowly from side to side； unbelieving。 〃You're incredible。 A band of men； eagerly awaiting certain death； for the minuscule chance it brings of chopping down a few minor enemies。〃
The Farmer shrugged elaborately。 〃We are not particular。 Any of them will do。〃
Gar still shook his head； smiling now。 〃If I had an army of men like you； I could conquer a world。〃
〃Why； here is your army；〃 the Tradesman said lightly； but his gaze held Gar's。 〃Where is this world you would conquer？〃
There was a silence then； stretched out like the skin of a war drum。
Then Gar laughed。 〃It is outside the walls of this jail； coz。 Shall we stroll down to the river？ Or perhaps you know a tavern where we might sit down to discuss fates of kingdoms。〃
The Tradesman's mouth pulled slowly into a sour smile； against his will。
One by one； the other men smiled； too； but the sudden disappointment weighted the dank air of the prison。
The Tradesman rolled to his feet。 〃We waste time in chatter。 We should sleep； it behooves us to be as fit as we may in four days。〃
The other men rumbled agreement； they slowly moved off to find filthy straw pallets against the walls。
Gar watched them go by the wavering light of the single torch outside the bars。
〃I think you almost had a revolution going there；〃 Dirk pointed out
〃Yes。〃 Gar nodded； eyes shining。 〃And I think I could have it again； anytime I called。〃 Then； very softly： 〃They're amazing。 You expect to find brutes in a prison； not men of wit。〃
〃They are brutes； in a way；〃 Dirk said slowly。 〃Each of them thinks only of killing。〃
〃Think？〃 Gar turned to him； nodding。 〃Yes； they do； don't they？ I always thought myself an intelligent man…but I had a good education； and they've had none。 Am I the lowest intelligence in the room？〃
〃I think not；〃 Dirk mused。 〃You strike me as having no shortage of brains。 But you certainly find yourself in congenial pany。〃
Gar nodded。 〃What kind of anomaly is this planet？ Do only the brains turn to theft？〃
〃They aren't thieves；〃 Dirk said softly。 〃Not a one of them。〃
〃What； then？〃
Dirk looked up into his eyes。 〃You really haven't figured it out yet？ The whole purpose behind this gladiator's charade？〃
Gar frowned down at him a moment； then rolled his head back against the wall； lips pursed in thought。 〃I've figured out that the purpose of it is to cull out the brainy ones…but I haven't gone too deeply into the mechanism。 This is one place where you don't ask a man about his background。 Why are they here？〃
〃They're rebels。 Any man who's here was overheard speaking against the Lords…maybe just a joke； or a drunken curse。 Or both。 And most of them have good senses of humor…they would've pulled a large audience。〃
〃Including Soldiers？〃
Dirk nodded。 〃And didn't particularly care。 Because； of course； there was a lot of anger behind them…to make them lose their heads that way。〃
〃I'm surprised all they did was talk。〃
〃If they'd actually done anything； they wouldn't be here。 If they'd tried to kill a lord； or stake out the local squire with a set of sickles； they'd have been strung up by the heels and beheaded right there。 No； this place is for the ones with sharp wits and hot blood…too smart to do something instantly fatal； too hot…tempered to be able to hide their anger and hatred。〃
〃It es to the same thing；〃 Gar said slowly。 〃Instantly fatal； or fatal within the year…what of it？ Dead is dead。 There must be some with more brains and cooler blood。〃
Dirk shrugged。 〃If a man looks intelligent but doesn't make waves； they put a robe around him and call him a priest。 They have to have a few churls who can read or write； after all…and who can preach resignation and humility to the masses。〃
Gar raised his eyebrows。 〃You've got a religion？〃
〃Oh yes。 Eighteenth…century Christianity； with all the trimmings。 The Lords thought of everything。 And they preach patience； all right…but the lords don't know that； with most of them； the patience they preach is just a matter of waiting for DeCade to e back to life。 They're the focal points of the munities…priests always have been。 But the lords don't know what they're focusing the churls on。〃
Gar nodded slowly。 〃And； of course； they have to be celibate。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃The penalty for fornication is death…for both parties。 And any children born of it。〃
Gar scowled； nodding。 〃So the hot…tempered intelligent ones get killed off in the Games； and the cool…tempered intelligent ones don't pass on their genes。 Either way； smart genes get filtered out…but only the ones smart enough to be troublesome； of course。 Couldn't have a population of idiots。 。。。 Yes； very neat。〃
〃Not pletely。 These berserkers may be smart enough to stay unmarried； but they are passionate。 They've usually passed on a gene or two before they got caught。〃
〃So；〃 Gar said slowly； 〃the filtering never ends。 It's got to be continual； a regular event。〃
〃Yes； and they do make quite an event of it。 They gather all the available churls together to watch it。〃
〃That should have a very salutary effect。〃
〃Oh； it does；〃 Dirk said softly；