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Slowly； the fog in DeCade's eyes seemed to clear a little。 His voice was low and ominous。 〃Tell me how you can do this。〃
〃There are wires woven through my belt；〃 Dirk said； fingering the rope around his waist。 〃Each is a series of circuits and the frayed ends act as a diaphragm…no matter。 It is magic and will send your words up to the Wizard's Far Towers； where they ride behind the moon。 They shall send your words back here； to sky…men like me； in hiding all across the land。 They shall bear your word to the churls and dig up the lasers。 Give me the word you wish carried； and the country shall rise before Core reaches Albemarle。〃
DeCade stood staring at him。
Then the huge staff flipped spinning up into the air； and DeCade split the clearing with a huge； savage yell。 The staff spun down at his head； he reached up and caught it and whirled it about。 〃Our day is saved！ We shall yet bring down the Lords！ Great thanks； goodmen and goodwives all！ Noble outlaws！〃 He leaped forward； caught Lapin and Hugh by the arms； yanked them back into the center of the clearing。 〃Great leaders！ May all the saints who smile upon bondsmen bless you this day； you who have brought me awake； aye； cared for and nurtured the man who was to be my body； and saved us all from the jaws of the Lords！ Your names shall be written in fire； to bum down the ages in glory！ Outlaws； remember this hour！ That your children； and your children's children； down to the twentieth generation may say； 'My ancestor was there when DeCade awoke and called down havoc upon the Lords！'〃
He let go of Hugh and Lapin and leaped back； whirling his staff over his head again。 〃Now； ring the Bell！〃
The outlaws cheered； yelled themselves hoarse。 In the middle of the clamor； Dirk dropped down to sit cross…legged on the ground。 He untied his belt； banded one end to the nearest outlaw。 〃Here！ Hold it tight！〃 He rubbed his palm over the frayed rope…end； flattening it out into a diaphragm。 Then he pulled the large garnet from his ring and stretched out the long； thin coiled wire beneath it。 The stone was shaped like a button earphone； he pressed it into his ear。 The belt acted as microphone； transmitter； and antenna； the ring acted as receiver； the garnet as earphone； and the wire connecting them doubled as receiving antenna。
Dirk spoke into the rope…end； feeling like half a fool。 〃Dulain to Clarion！ e in。 Clarion！〃 He repeated the message while the clamor in the clearing died； until he heard a rich； resonant voice in his ear。 〃Clarion to Dulain。 Receiving。 Proceed。〃
〃Holding for instruction。〃 Dirk looked up at the outlaw。 〃Summon DeCade。〃
The outlaw scowled at the 〃summon〃 part； but he turned； waved his free arm。 Across me clearing； the Giant caught the movement； he frowned and came stalking over to Dirk。
〃What means this？ If you cannot…〃
〃I must have the words you wish sounded across the kingdom；〃 Dirk interrupted sharply。 〃The exact words； to be sure I make no mistake。〃
DeCade shrugged impatiently。 〃'DeCade has rungen the Bell。 Bring down your Lords at dawn； then send men to Albemarle。'〃
Dirk stared。
Then he cocked his head to the side。 〃Just like that； huh？〃
〃Aye。 What of it？〃
〃Been thinking it over； have you？〃
DeCade gave him a sardonic smile。 〃Several hundred years； these people tell me。〃
Dirk thought that one over a second； then nodded and turned back to the rope…end。 〃Uh…huh。 Right。。。 DuLain to Clarion。 Copy and retransmit to all agents…General Call； Emergency/Red Alert： 'DeCade has rungen the Bell。 Bring down your Lords at dawn； then send men to Albemarle。'〃
There was no reply。 Dirk frowned； listening closely。 No； there was ambient sound； the connection hadn't been broken。 〃Clarion； … e in！〃
〃Copied。〃 The voice on the other end was strained； almost unbelieving。 Then the operator cleared his throat； got his voice back to business。 〃Hold please； Dulain。〃
Dirk frowned； pressing the garnet into his ear。 What was the matter？
〃What moves？〃 DeCade growled。
〃I don't think they can believe it's finally happening。〃
〃Copied； Dulain； will execute。〃 Dirk stiffened； it was the Captain's voice。 〃What else； Dulain？〃
〃Uh…hold for instruction。〃 Dirk looked up at DeCade。 …When and where do you want the Far Towers to fall？〃
DeCade's face went blank； then he frowned in thought 〃They bear arms； you said？〃
Dirk nodded。
〃What quantity on each ship？〃
〃A thousand rifles and ten laser…cannon。 That's portable；
for the churls； the ships themselves each mount four cannon
and a hundred bombs。〃
DeCade's face tightened as he consulted Gar's memories； Dirk wondered if be was getting used to the pain。 DeCade nodded slowly； still thinking。 〃How many ships？〃
〃Twenty…one…one for each province； and 'two for Albemarle。 Believe me； that'll be enough。〃
DeCade stared down at him for a long moment。 Then he said； 〃You have your own battle plan。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃You want it in detail？〃
DeCade grimaced in disgust 〃Credit me with some sense； Dulain。 Do as you have planned； I doubt not your strategy stems from the Wizard； as does mine； they should mesh。 As to time； bring them at dawn； let all move at once。〃
〃We can raise the land by midnight；〃 Dirk suggested。
DeCade stared。
Then he scowled。 〃Why did you not say so sooner？ If you can。。。 are you certain？〃
Dirk nodded emphatically。
〃Then do； by all that is holy！ Let all move at midnight； so much more will the Lords be taken unaware！ Bring the ships down then； save for the two over Albemarle。 Let them ride unseen till I call them！〃
Dirk nodded； turning back to the mike with a gloating smile。 〃Amend previous message： have churls bring down Lords at midnight。 Bring ships down then； too； except for the two over Albemarle。〃
〃Copied。 Anything else； Dulain？〃
Dirk looked up at DeCade。 〃Anything more？〃
DeCade shook his head； his eyes glinting。
Dirk turned back to the mike。 〃No more。 Captain。〃
〃Copied and over。〃 The Captain's voice suddenly turned warm； exuberant。 〃Well done； Dulain！ If we had medals； you'd get one！ How did you ever find the leader？〃
Dirk started to answer； then caught himself short。 〃Uh。。。 I couldn't；〃 he said slowly； 〃so I made one。〃 And； before the Captain could say anything； 〃End contact。〃
CHAPTER 12
When the sun was setting on a village far to the south； the churl 〃elder〃 （he was in his fifties） was leading his work gang home from the fields。 As they came； they sang a slow ballad with a heavy rhythm…a work song that any listening Lord would have thought was pure nonsense。 Even the numbers didn't make sense。
When rings the bell； and es the call；
（Pull steady； Jean； and slow）；
Then one will run to ninety…three；
And they will send out three times three；
And each will go to ninety…three。
（Jean； run when you must go！）
As they sang； another churl in a dust…stained tunic exactly like theirs stepped out of a thicket by the roadway and fell in with them。 No one seemed to notice； but the air about them was suddenly char