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The monk nodded。 〃But the children understand it as a fact of their life and dismiss it as easily as the adults do…more easily perhaps。〃
〃When they have to run； they do。 Till then； they don't think about it。〃
〃Quite so；〃 the monk agreed。 〃So they have no need to worry for their children。 The mothers carry the infants； the babes ride their fathers' shoulders…and all the others can go to ground and stay hidden as well as any rabbit。〃
〃Oh。〃 Dirk's eyes widened。 〃So that's why the top banana calls herself Lapin。 I was wondering why they called their chief 'Rabbit。'〃
〃Of course。〃 The old man smiled； amused。 〃They have great respect for rabbits； I assure you。 In fact； they surpass them when it es to hiding and lying still。 And the King's hunters have passed them。 But these rabbits have teeth； and very sharp ones。〃
〃I believe it。〃 Dirk's eyes strayed to an outlaw who sat near the fire； making arrows。 〃Didn't I notice you playing that game with them earlier。 Father？〃
The old man glanced at the arrowmakers； then nodded。 〃Aye； I must admit I have some skill at it For that reason； they call me 'Father Pletcher。'〃
Dirk frowned at the chagrin in the old man's voice。 〃That bothers you； eh？ A man of the cloth； making weapons of war？〃
〃Somewhat；〃 the old man admitted。 〃But Our Lord said to love our enemies and forgive them； He did not say we should not fight them。〃
Dirk cranked his head around to try to swallow that one； but found he couldn't。 〃I…ah…don't quite think that's…uh…an accurate reflection of the…ah…gist of His
preaching。〃
The old priest tried to shrug； but it bowed his shoulders。 〃We do what we must。 Dirk Dulain； and if my conscience wakes me in the night with screaming； that is my concern and no one else's。〃
But Dirk had suddenly lost interest in the topic。 〃You know my name。〃
〃Aye。〃 A smile touched the old priest's lips again。 〃So does the whole of the camp； by now。 None ever escaped the arena before； you are men of some moment〃
〃I'm overe by the honor。〃 Dirk said dryly。 〃Are you chaplain to this merry army； Father？〃
〃Only a wandering guest； like yourself。〃 The old man looked out over the camp； and Dirk thought he saw a certain yearning in the lined and weary face。 〃I am a hedge priest； my friend…a clergyman without a parish or a flock； wandering wind…tossed over the earth； bringing words of hope to all the people。〃
〃 'All。。。'〃 Dirk rolled the word over his tongue； wondering whether he liked its flavor。 〃How many bands like this are there。 Father？〃
〃A dozen more within this forest； and at least another dozen in every other forest in the kingdom。 After that； who knows？ There's scarce a woodlot in Melange without its score or more of outlaws。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃Seven major forests…that's eighty…four bands right there。 And each Lord has his hunting park。 Figure fifty people per band on average。。。 about five thousand archers； trained and armed； and ready。。。〃
〃You're quite the pessimist；〃 the priest assured him。 〃I'd estimate at least twelve thousand。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃And which is the largest band？〃
〃Why； this one。〃 The priest smiled； amused。 〃Would you not expect it； nearest the King's own town？〃
〃Ordinary outlaws； no；〃 Dirk said judiciously。 〃But people with a folklore culture aching for guerrilla warfare revolution。。。 Yes； of course。 Should I ask who all these bands take orders from？〃
〃No； you've guessed it。〃 Father Fletcher's mouth crinkled at the ers。 〃All acknowledge suzerainty of this band。〃
〃And that means of Lapin。〃 Dirk heaved a sigh。 〃Quite an army to bring against the Lords； if DeCade ever calls。〃
〃When DeCade calls；〃 the priest corrected serenely。
Dirk felt a sudden； sinking certainty that he'd never find a way to kick this patient peasant army into motion。
A sudden piercing whistle shattered the calm of the night。
The outlaws leaped to their feet； staring toward the east； where the whistle had e from。 Murmurs rose and fell like surf； with a subtle undertone of rattling wood； as men and women strapped on quivers； caught up bows。
A runner came bounding into the firelight； glanced about him wildly。 〃Lapin！〃
The leader moved into the firelight like a creasing bow wave。 〃Speak！ What moves？〃
〃A hundred Soldiers； at least；〃 the runner cried； whirling toward her。 〃And at their head…Lord Core himself！〃
〃Core！〃 Hugh spat； and the outlaws took up the word； passing it about from mouth to mouth； like a swollen porcupine involved in a dispute about its ownership。
〃Why es he here； himself？〃 Lapin rumbled。
〃Why else？〃 Gar shouldered up beside her。 〃From all I hear； escape from the Games isn't exactly a move calculated to make the authorities lose interest。〃 He looked up at Dirk。 〃I think we might consider a change of climate。〃
〃We all must；〃 Lapin said sourly； and the whole army turned to gather up its belongings。
〃No； wait！〃 Madelon stepped up。 〃There's only a hundred of them； we are twice their number。 Why not take them？〃
〃Aye！〃 Hugh cried。 〃Disperse； but only to the borders of this clearing。 Then let them all e in； and when the last is here within the clearing…let fly the arrows。 Cut them down。〃
〃Rifles；〃 Father Fletcher murmured； but Hugh waved the objection away。 〃They won't have time。〃
〃Why not？〃 Madelon cried。 〃If we take them…Lord Core！ At a stroke； we've stricken out our harshest hunter！〃
〃Devoutly to be wished；〃 Father Fletcher admitted。 〃Still； it lacks the taste of wisdom。〃
〃Why？〃 Hugh bellowed。 〃We'd take them all； not a one could live to run！ No one would learn of it。 No one could know…save us！〃
〃Well planned；〃 the priest approved。 〃But every plan can go awry； and if only one should slip away； to bear the word…〃
〃How？〃 Hugh interrupted。 〃What Soldier could outrun or hide； in our own for…〃
〃Enough；〃 Lapis said…not loudly； but with the weight of a new bride's biscuit； and the argument was killed。 Silently； they all turned to her。
〃We will hide；〃 she said。
Silence stretched a skein。
〃Why！〃 Hugh erupted。 〃Odd gods； woman！ How much chance is this？〃
〃None；〃 Lapin said with profound calm。 〃But it would be war； and the Bell has not yet rung。〃
Hugh stood staring at her in poleaxed silence。 Then he turned away； his face thunderous； and took the kettle off the fire。 Madelon stayed a moment longer； glaring furiously at the older woman； but Lapin turned a granite gaze upon her； and Madelon turned away； flushing。
Dirk stared； paralyzed。 Just one word from this she…leviathan； and a whole peasant army threw away a certain victory。 In his mind's eye； he saw a vast and ready army； stretching across the length and breadth of the kingdom； armed and poised to strike…and frozen； immobilized in ice。 Because a word had not been spoken； had not because it could not…because the lips that had to speak it had turned to rot and dust； five hundred years before。
A hand clasped his shoulder； jolting him out of his trance。
〃It might be best if you would e with me；〃 Father Fletcher suggested。 〃I know these