按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Dirk could feel his eyes trying to bulge out of their sockets。
The beams cut off； leaving no light but the torch。 Behind Dirk； the outlaws muttered fearfully。
〃Triggered by the force…field we passed through。〃
DeCade's voice cut through the mutters。 〃It is no matter。 They told me it was ing。 Follow。〃 And he stepped forward again。
Dirk frowned up at him。 Then； hesitantly； he stepped forward himself。 He took the second step a little more surely； with the third step； he felt a gush of fervent faith in DeCade that threatened to overwhelm him。 He suppressed it quickly…almost in panic…as he caught up with DeCade。 He looked up at the giant； frowning。 〃Who told you it was ing？〃
〃The men who built this place。〃 DeCade licked his lips and swallowed； sweat sheened his forehead。 〃There was suffering between these walls。 Dirk Dulain。〃
Of course。 Dirk thought； chagrined。 If the workmen who put the lasers in had been men of any conscience； they would have been in agony over what the devices they were installing could do to human beings…and； they must have realized； human beings of their own kind； who else would want to sneak into the King's castle through the back door？ Echoes of that guilt would still linger near each installation…for a psychometrist。
Then the other implication hit him。 Dirk stared up at DeCade； appalled。
The giant nodded。 〃Yes； Dirk Dulain。 When they killed them； they buried the workmen in the walls。〃
〃Odd gods； man！ You must be in agony！〃
〃It。。。 is not pleasant；〃 DeCade admitted。
Dirk peered up at him in the torchlight； looking closely。 〃Are you sure you're…〃
〃I am；〃 DeCade said curtly。 〃I can bear it easily； Dulain； there were only a hundred of them。〃 And he inarched ahead。
Dirk followed slowly； mentally revising his estimate of the giant's strength upward； and it had been high to begin with。 Or was it Gar's strength he was estimating？
DeCade jerked to a halt again。 In a low； soothing voice； he called out； 〃Steady。 It es now； once again。〃 He scowled； an uneasy murmur rose behind him。 DeCade ignored it； glowering straight ahead。 Dirk wondered what he was doing…putting greater weight on the floor with a force…field； pushing out heat in front of himself； stopping a stream of photons？ Whichever one it was； Gar must have also been a telekineticist； by speeding up the motion of the molecules； he could raise the temperature of the air。 By slowing them down； he could free energy to bind into a force field…and if he could do that； he was some kind of psi Dirk had never even heard about。 Dirk found himself wondering if there had been anything psionic Gar hadn't been able to do。
A thundering crash； and a huge portcullis slammed down to bite into the rock of the tunnel floor。
Dirk started back； scared half out of his skin。
The tunnel was totally silent。
Then a low； frantic muttering began。
DeCade's voice cut through it like a buzz saw。 〃It is done； they have shot their bolt。 Now let us tear this iron from our path。〃 He nodded to Dirk。 〃Your laser。〃
Dirk pulled out his pistol and held down the firing stud。 The ruby beam sizzled out to the top corner of the portcullis and began to shear through the iron。 Behind him； three outlaws unlimbered their own pistols； gaining confidence now that they had something to do。 Four ruby beams slashed out； moving slowly； one along each side。
Dirk couldn't help a moment of admiration for the first King。 Just in case time deteriorated his electronic defense； he'd had a primitive mechanical one as a fail…safe。 Primitive； yes； but effective…unless you happened to have an all…purpose psi along。
Each pair of laser beams met at a er and winked out DeCade stood waiting a few moments； watching the glowing metal； then he raised his staff with both hands clasped at the top； swung it high above his head like a battering ram； and shot it forward。 The tip hit the iron grille a little above center。 The last few strands of iron snapped； and the huge gate slammed back and down with a crash。
DeCade stood staring at it a moment。 Then； slowly； he said； 〃The way is clear； good lads。 Follow。〃 And he stepped onto the grille； carefully avoiding the hot edges； and strode ahead。 Dirk followed。 So did the outlaws。
As the torchbearer cleared the far edge of the portcullis； the light fell on a steep； narrow flight of stairs； thick with dust。 DeCade grinned down at Dirk。 〃Only a long climb now； friend Dulain； and we will have e to the place we seek。〃 Then he frowned； his head snapped up； as though he had heard something。
Dirk had felt it； too…that sudden inner certainty that now was the time。
〃We are laggard；〃 DeCade said grimly。 〃They are storming the walls。 e。〃 He turned and strode away up the stairs。
The young Lord on sentry duty at the northeast point of the wall leaned on the battlement； staring down at the wide talus slope below him； newly sprinkled with lime； white even in the starlight。 He smiled at the sight； nodding with satisfaction； not a single churl could creep across that expanse of whiteness without being as clear as a hot woman's hunger。 The rabble had pushed their rightful lords back into Albemarle； but now the pushing was done； the Lords were here in the King's castle； and here they would stay while Core and the King summoned an army from across the galaxy…there were always mercenaries for hire； and any aristocracy was a good credit risk。 A fleet of ships would be on its way before morning； and the Lords could stay； safe and snug； in this castle； until the great ships came thundering down。 There was plenty of food； and Albemarle had never been taken。
The young Lord failed to remember that Albemarle had never been attacked。
Below him； in the fringe of forest across the white talus slope； churls cherished new laser pistols given to them by sky…men。 Directly below the young Lord； a sky…man lay prone； cradling a sniper's laser rifle to his shoulder； centering infrared scope sights on the sentry。 Next to him knelt an outlaw； his hand on the sky…man's shoulder； waiting。
On the wall above； eight sentries watched； hawk…eyed and nervous； alert for the slightest sign of attack； wishing their watches were over。
Below each of them lay a sky…man with a rifle； and a churl with his hand on the sky…man's shoulder…almost immobile； scarcely breathing…waiting。
Then； somehow； each churl felt it within him…now was the time。
Eight hands tightened on shoulders。
Eight beams of ruby light lanced out at the same moment； eight sentries fell； with holes burned in their chests。 One screamed and another managed a rattling bark； then all was still。 Each lordling lay next to the huge laser cannon that had been his charge。
On the white talus slope； eight groups of outlaws appeared； running toward the wall with long ladders； grappling hooks； and cables。 The butts of the ladders grounded just outside the moat； their tops swung up； over； and thudded home high on the castle walls。 Outlaws scrambled up the ladders。 They stopped at the topmost rungs； slipped the grappling hooks from their shoulders； swung the