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ped at the topmost rungs； slipped the grappling hooks from their shoulders； swung them seven times about their heads； and let fly。 Eight irons arced up through the night； over the wall and down； to clatter on stone。 Below； on the ground； other churls caught the trailing ropes and pulled。 The grappling irons clattered along me stone and caught in crevices。 More churls threw their weight on the ropes； and steel points bit deep into stone。
Above on the ladder； the climbers caught the ropes again； pulled on them； rested their weight on them； then swung out； and set their feet against the walls； and started walking upward。 A few minutes later； they hauled themselves over the top and onto the battlements。 They pulled themselves to their feet； pulling out hammers and ringbolts； and tamed to drive the ringbolts deep into the granite。 Then they loosened the grappling irons and pulled up the ropes。 At their ends came rope ladders。 They made the ladders fast to the ringbolts； then leaned over the outer wall； waving down。 A few minutes later； sky…men clambered up and over the walls； dropped to their knees next to the laser cannons； pulled out small tool kits； and got busy taking out a few vital parts。 The climbers hadn't waited； they were already down in the courtyard； running； converging on the main gate。 As they ran； they unlimbered truncheons and drew laser pistols。
The Lord of the Watch sat at a table with three other Lords； playing cards by the light of an oil lamp。 Its light flickered on the great windlass that operated the drawbridge； but didn't quite penetrate to the door and ers。 Three outlaws eased silently through the door。
One of the Lords threw down his cards in disgust and leaned back in his chair； looking up。 His eyes widened and his mouth opened to shout。
The outlaws sprang； and five more leaped in behind them。
One Lord went down as a club caught him behind the ear。 The other three stared； then leaped to their feet； shouting and yanking at their swords。 One went down with a bad dent in his skull； a truncheon stabbed into another's solar plexus。 The last screamed as a club broke his wrist； then another caught him at the base of the skull； and his scream cut off； his eyes rolling up as his knees collapsed and he folded to the floor。
The outlaws stood panting a moment； staring down at their erstwhile masters； not quite believing。 Then four of them whipped ropes and gags from their belts and knelt to get busy wrapping the Lords for storage。 The other four turned to the great windlass。
Outside； an army of churls streamed up across the white talus slope with Hugh at their head。 The great drawbridge groaned； then swung slowly down with a rattling of chains。 It thudded home on the bank； and the portcullis creaked up as a vanguard of a thousand churls came charging across the bridge； their eyes burning with silent triumph。 They burst into the courtyard。 Behind them； thousands more swelled up out of the woods in an orderly； quick…moving column。
The brazen bellow of a gong split the night； rolling out from the great central keep。
Hugh cursed under his breath； some lordling had looked out a window； and seen what was happening in the courtyard； and raised the alarm。 It wouldn't be quite a clean sweep； after all。
But close enough。。。
He charged the great door of the keep； leveling his laser to burn out the lock； but the door boomed open； and a double column of Lords charged out； formed into a skirmish line； and opened fire as other Lords came running out onto the battlements from upper doors。 Hugh and his men threw themselves flat and dived for cover behind carts； water troughs； anything； as the sky…men on the battlements opened fire on the Lords up above； and a thousand churls came vaulting up stone steps to join them。 Laser beams embroidered the night with bright geometric patterns。 Churls and Lords screamed and died； but others leaped to fill their places。 The churls pressed forward foot by foot； but a thousand Lords were now spread out by the base of the Keep； and half again that number warred on the battlements。 More pressed behind them。
Then a score of churls together blasted ten Lords out of the line and charged up to three feet of them before other Lords could replace them。 The replacements came out firing； but wildly； ten churls survived to bum into the center of the packed mass of Lords； and a hundred followed them。 The Lords turned on the invaders； but realized that a laser was as apt to burn a fellow Lord as a churl。 They threw their pistols down with curses and whipped out their swords。
The churls met them with long knives。
In a few minutes； a knot of chaos had formed in front of the keep door as Lords paired off with churls in hand…to…hand bat。 Other Lords charged in to help their fellows； and hundreds of churls ducked laser fire to plunge in to have a personal chance at a Lord。 The whole courtyard became one huge melee； Lords bellowing and howling as they fought silent； flint…eyed churls。 And still the Lords poured out from the keep； and still more churls poured in through the gate。
CHAPTER 14
An outlaw threw his weight on a lever and； slowly； the oak door at the top of the stairs groaned open。 DeCade leaped forward； ducking and whirling out into an opulent bedchamber； staff lashing out in case of ambush。 But the chamber was empty。 He straightened slowly； looking about him； too； curious to see how the top percent of the other half lived。 The carpet on the floor felt like a lush lawn beneath his feet。 The walls were hung with rich； brightly worked tapestries； and the chairs； dressers； and tables were beautifully carved of a dark； rich wood。 A huge canopied bed stood in the center of the room； hung with burgundy velvet curtains…drawn tightly； now。
DeCade stepped toward it； motioning them to follow。 He eased up to the side of the bed。 Dirk beside him。 Half of the outlaws oozed over to the curtains on the far side。
DeCade reached out a huge hand and yanked the curtains open。
A fat； bearded young man started up out of a sound sleep； staring about him wildly。 He took one look at DeCade； gave a shriek of terror； and burrowed back into the bedclothes； plastering himself against the headboard； trembling and staring at them with wide； dull eyes。 His nightshirt was silk； heavily embroidered…and stained with food。 There was a golden coronet on bis head。
DeCade's mouth drew up in contempt 〃Is this a King？〃
The hair was long； black； and straggling； the beard was sparse and scrubby。 The creature pressed back against the headboard； mewling in terror； clawing at the bedclothes。
DeCade doffed his cap in sarcastic respect 〃Well met； your Majesty。。。。 Have you nothing to say？〃
〃You know he doesn't；〃 Dirk said gently。 〃Look at his eyes。〃
The eyes were huge； wide； dull…and empty。 Spittle glistened on the thick lips and dripped down into the beard。
DeCade nodded； with heavy irony。 〃Yes； I know。 The churls are not alone in inbreeding。〃
〃He is always spoken of but never seen；〃 Dirk said slowly。 〃Snail wonder。 Would you display an idiot for your King？〃
Dirk shook