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〃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； 〃but not quite the one they expect。 The whole mob es away every year； more determined than ever to turn out for a bloodbath〃…his mouth twisted…〃as soon as DeCade rises again。〃
〃Yes； there is that little problem；〃 Gar mused。 〃How do you plan to start the revolution if DeCade doesn't rise？〃
〃We haven't quite got that one figured out yet。〃 Dirk admitted。
〃And who's going to figure it out？〃 Gar smiled wryly。 〃By your account； all the brains get killed off or culled out。〃
〃No；〃 Dirk said slowly； 〃not all。 Not the really smart ones； no。〃
Gar frowned； puzzled； then his face cleared； with something like shock。 〃Of course。 The really intelligent ones would be smart enough to hide it…successfully。 They'd never be caught or found out。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃All we're left with is geniuses。 And； with the kind of inbreeding we've got； there're a lot of them…almost as many as there are idiots。 The Wizard was no accident。〃
〃Yes。 The Wizard。〃 Gar chewed at his cheek； thoughtfully。
〃Most of your boys…the spacers…made it off…planet because they had to leave their homes rather suddenly； didn't they？〃
〃Most of us； yes。 Which means we were found out while we were still very young。 So； in answer to the question you're polite enough not to ask； surprisingly。 No。 We don't consider ourselves geniuses。 Smart； yes； most of us…but not that smart。〃
Gar nodded。 〃So where do you find them？〃
〃A few in the forests； with the outlaws…they got sick of pretending。 But most of them are in the cities； in the secret organization。〃
〃The secret society。〃 Gar's eyes widened； he nodded slowly。 〃Yes； of course。 It has a long and honorable history。〃
〃Well； not exactly honorable； I can think of quite a few that weren't。 But； shall we say； effective？〃
〃Let us hope so； in this case。〃 Gar raised a skeptical eyebrow。 〃And just how do these geniuses of yours plan to start the revolution without DeCade？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Dirk said slowly； 〃and I'm not sure they do； either。〃
CHAPTER 6
For all their good cheer； the prisoners' nerves began to fray as the days slipped by。 The tension was partly fear； of course； but it was partly eagerness； too。 The boxing practice became more feverish； less deft。 They began to bark at one another during the slivers of free time； after supper； there was an occasional quarrel。
Their last dinner； the night before the Games； was better than usual…they actually had a few ounces of meat each。 But afterward； they sat around the walls of the great chamber； turned in on themselves； occasionally muttering to one another…or； more often； growling。
One of the Merchants sat idly throwing a pebble against the wall； catching it on the rebound； and throwing it again。 Chink； chink！ It began to get on Dirk's nerves； even though he was fairly sure of living through the debacle tomorrow。 Oliver； the Farmer； paced the chamber； back and forth； back and forth； like a caged gorilla…huge； lithe； and deadly； and ready to erupt into snarling fury。
〃Cease that infernal pacing。 Fanner！〃 one of the Woodsmen rasped。 〃It's bad enough in here tonight； without you winding it tighter！〃
Oliver whirled； his fists ing up； but before he could speak。 Gar snapped； 〃Hold！〃
His voice wasn't loud； but it stopped Oliver…or at least changed his direction。 He turned toward Gar slowly； eyes narrowing。 〃And who are you to mand me； Outlander？〃
Gar lifted his head； raising his eyebrows。 〃Why； I am myself。 Care to debate the point？〃
Oliver started toward him； fists ing up。
Hugh； the big Tradesman； growled； 〃Oh； stop it； the pair of you！ Isn't it bad enough the Lordlings'll be hacking us to bits tomorrow； without our tearing at each other now？〃
Oliver slowed； turned toward him； puzzled。 He looked back at Gar； his mouth tightened in a quick grimace； and he turned away； to take up his pacing again。
The Woodsman glared at him and started to speak； but Hugh caught his eye and he subsided。
Oliver began to beat his fist into his palm in time to his pacing。 〃Something's got to break。 It's got to。〃
〃It will；〃 a Hostler growled。 〃Tomorrow。〃
〃Don't speak of tomorrow。〃 Hugh snapped。 His mouth tightened in chagrin。 〃Damn！ Fm doing it too； now。〃 He looked about him； glowering。 〃We need a song。〃
The room fell suddenly silent。 They all knew which song he meant…and they also knew the penalty for singing it Death。 Instant。 Dirk raised his head and looked slowly about the room； saw the naked craving in each face； but also the fear that overlaid it。
So slowly； softly； Dirk began to chant the Lay。
When DeCade was young； he fell in love；
As even churls may do；
His lass was bonny； bright； and gay；
For them the world seemed new。
Heads came up slowly； all around the room。 They stared at him； startled； a little shocked。 Then the hunger rose in their faces； and their eyes fastened on him； greedily。
Dirk sang on：
When you take joy； remember price…
Each pleasure must be paid。
Before they wed； the charge came by…
A Lord espied the maid。
He sang the whole tale…how DeCade had wakened at midnight； hearing the screams of his love； had caught up his staff and bolted from his hut to fall on the band of Soldiers who were stealing her away…a huge bear of a man； nearly seven feet tall； three hundred pounds of silent homicidal muscle； with a hardwood quarterstaff as heavy as a bar of iron； laying about him in fury； not counting the tally of dead。 The leader of the party held a knife to the girl's throat； and DeCade broke the man's skull and spilled his brains。 But the leader was quick…he sliced her throat as he fell…and DeCade stood； numbed； staring at his love； lying dead in a pool of her own blood； all trace of pity and forgiveness pouring out of him as the blood poured out of her。 Then； only when she lay emptied before him and only a hollow； frozen void remained within him； did he turn his eyes to the leader； and realize it was the Lord's son。
So Dirk sang the tale； and Gar looked down； staring at him as though he were insane。 Dirk took a breath and took up the ballad again。
DeCade fled to the forest that night and hid for some time； living on poached meat and killing any Lord or Soldier foolish enough to e in under the trees； alone or in pany。
And； finally； the outlaws found him and took him for their leader。
Then churls began to escape to the forest…a few at first； then more and more； hundreds； thousands； who never would have thought of escape before； risking their lives to e join the Lord…killer in the forest。
And the Wizard found him； too…some unnamed genius with magical powers； or so the legend said； who had appeared out of nowhere and given DeCade an enchanted staff。 With it； DeCade took on a small army that came to clean out the forest…a band of a hundred…and he slew them all； by himself； alone。
The word was brought to the King； in h