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the forest。
And they weren't showing any sign of slackening。 Dirk wasn't； either； but it was only good acting； his legs felt like noodles。 It had been three hours since DeCade had called a rest。
His earphone buzzed； Dirk lowered his head； frowning。 〃Dulain here。〃 He listened silently； then nodded。 〃Received； with thanks。 Keep me informed。〃 Then he looked up at the giant。 〃DeCade！ Most of the castles have fallen； only a handful still fight…the ones where we had none of the Soldiers。〃
DeCade nodded。 〃As expected。 Those few will fight well into tomorrow； and some may need a full siege。 No matter； we should have men to send them in plenty； by this hour tomorrow。〃
Dirk frowned； the giant didn't even seem to conceive of failure anymore。 It could be a good thing； but。。。 〃In many of the castles； the Lords escaped。〃
DeCade nodded again。 〃Of course。 Let them ride through the night till they e to Albemarle。 Let them ride。〃
It didn't seem like good tactics； why go against any stronger a garrison then they had to； at the King's castle？ But Dirk shrugged； and； with a sigh； relayed the order on up； then looked up at DeCade； frowning thoughtfully。 〃Uh。。。 some of the agents saw the fighting。 They were flabbergasted by its smoothness。〃
〃Were they？〃
Dirk bit down on a surge of irritation； then let it pass。 〃Yes。 You must admit it looks a little strange…a horde of peasants who've never had any military training； falling in like the best…disciplined army； each man doing exactly what he's supposed to； without question； with perfect coordination； perfect timing。〃
〃Why should this surprise you？〃 DeCade countered。 〃You saw it at the arena。〃
〃Well； yes。 But I didn't understand it then； either。〃
〃Even though you felt it well enough to act on it。〃 DeCade smiled tightly。 〃Still； you wish the names for it。〃
Dirk nodded。 〃We sky…men are peculiar that way； yes。〃 Suddenly； bitterly； he felt his isolation from these people again。
DeCade sighed and came to a stop。 He pressed a hand to his forehead； muttering； 〃I must have your words。〃 He stood a moment in silence； stiffened。 Lapin； Madelon and the priest stared in alarm。 Dirk gave them what he hoped was a reassuring nod and turned back to DeCade。
The giant lifted his head； took a long breath； then nodded and strode forward once again。 〃Well enough。 You know our people are descended from a mere dozen； each of whom was multiplied by magic…'cloned；' you call it…into many thousands。〃
Dirk nodded。
〃Seven hundred years go by；〃 DeCade went on。 〃The blood of those twelve has mingled again and again； but with no more mingling between types than the Lords could possibly help。 There are now twelve clans…but each member of each clan is as like to every other as peas in a pod。〃
〃Genetically identical；〃 Dirk murmured。
DeCade nodded。 〃That is your term。 It takes sharp looking to tell one Tradesman from another。 And the mode of living the Lords enforce for each clan makes all homes alike。 At first each set of parents was somewhat different； probably； but as time went on； the differences damped out； within each clan； the people of each generation behaved more and more like one another。 Each person had the same heredity； and； since parents and life…style are nearly identical； each person has an environment virtually the same。 A Tradesman's house is different from a Farmer's； and a country Tradesman's house is different from a town Tradesman's…but town Tradesmen live in town； and have for several hundred years。 Where your grandfather was born； so were you。〃
〃Yes；〃 Dirk murmured； remembering the family traditions his father had taught him。 〃For seven hundred years。〃
〃Well； there you have it。〃 DeCade shrugged。 〃Within each clan； heredity and environment are identical for every person。〃
Dirk stopped as though he'd run into a brick wall。 DeCade stopped； too； nodding down at him； brooding。 〃You told it to this body； did you realize what it meant？ If heredity and environment are identical； behavior must be identical； too。 Give any Tradesman a stimulus； and he will react like any other Tradesman。 We know this； we feel it； and so we know what each of our clansmen will do。 All know each other's actions before they do them； each knows what must be done。 However； there is still enough of human caution in any group so that no man will move until another does。 But give them one man to walk before them； and all will walk behind him； do as he does…for they know； in any set of circumstances； everything that must be done。〃
〃And the leader could be any one of them。〃 Dirk flashed the mental picture of the caterpillars crawling around and around the rim of the flowerpot again； and shuddered。 He shook his head quickly to rid himself of it。 〃But some clans would have natural reactions that wouldn't fit the situation。〃
DeCade nodded； turned away； and began walking again。 〃They must be made to understand that silence is necessary till the battle's joined； or you lose all advantage of surprise。 So the Wizard sent directions down the ages； he set his battle…plan to rhyme and tune and gave it piecemeal to the churls to sing。 Fathers teach these songs to sons； mothers to daughters…and they bee a part of the environment。 With those songs echoing in mind tonight； each verse called up as events cued it； no churl could set foot wrong。〃
〃A natural army；〃 Dirk breathed； 〃bred that way for seven hundred years。〃 He had a sudden terrifying vision of what his cousins could do if they were ever unleashed upon the galaxy。
DeCade nodded。 〃And thus the Lords made certain their own downfall。 They planned this world well and thoroughly； and made it adhere to that plan down through the centuries。 But no plan can include all factors because the factors change； and no man can read the future till it's done。 The human creature is perverse； is it not？ We always find the road the intellect did not see； nor want。〃
Dirk thought of Finagle and held his peace。
The Lord de Breton galloped through the night with his family and his entourage； their hooves rumbled like cannon wheels through the moonlight。
As they came to a crossroads； another troop came galloping out； nearly colliding with them。 The Lord swore； sawing back on the reins； men cursed and women screamed。 Horses slewed to a stop with stiffened legs； churning up dust。 The Lord grabbed at his sword； then he froze； staring at the brightly dressed figure at the head of the strangers； recognizing the Lord Montpasse。
The two troops stared at one another for a long； frozen moment； then the two troops mingled； with loud laughter of relief and friendly insults。
A few minutes later； a single； stronger band trotted through the night； with two Lords at its head。
Five miles later； they caught up with another doubled band； then another； and another。 Soon a thousand horses rumbled down the King's Highway； bound for Albemarle。
Dirk's earphone clicked。 He frowned and tapped out an acknowledgment。 He listened for a few minutes； then pulled himself to his feet and threaded his way through the packed bodies in the huge clearing