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what those boys are thinking right now； I can give you a good guess…but I don't know。。。。〃
His voice trailed off as the feeling of alienation； isolation enfolded him。
Dirk looked up slowly； saw Gar's eyes； saw the pity in them； and shook himself with a growl。 He looked back at Madelon； who was gazing at Gar； Dirk saw the watchful； calculating look in her eyes。
And something else…less than fascination； more than interest…and felt his heart sink。
There was a sudden motion in the street； the Squire's voice bawling orders in a sort of seasick groan； then more groans and the clanking of armor； a few oaths。 Then the sound of hooves； fading。
〃They've gone。〃 Madelon gave Dirk's bandage a last tug and dropped down beside him。 〃Now begins the waiting。 Think of something； anything…a peasant girl； naked。 Make it lascivious； so it holds all your attention； anything to keep your mind off where you e from or the kinds of thoughts men have there。〃 She folded her arms； pillowed her head on them； and became pletely still。
Gar looked up at Dirk； in a silent question。 Dirk nodded and pushed himself back from the edge of the platform。 Gar followed suit； and they both lay down； curled up on their sides； and made an excellent try at being inanimate。
A feather seemed to touch Dirk's brain； a shadow of foreboding； then lifted away； gone as quickly as it had e； but apprehension remained。
He rose to his knees。 〃I think we'd better go。〃
〃Be still！〃 Madelon hissed。 〃We've yet half of an hour before the search is away from the village。〃
Dirk shook his head doggedly。 〃I may have a touch of psi myself； I don't know。 One way or another； when something tells me to get gone； I move。 And so far it has always paid off。〃 He started down the ladder。
〃You'll have us all killed！ Do ye want the torture？〃
〃No。〃 Dirk touched ground。 〃That's why I'm going。〃 He looked up。 〃ing； Gar？〃
The big man looked from Madelon to Dirk； frowning dubiously。 Then he started down the ladder。
〃Go to your dooms； then！ I've done all I can； and I'm well rid of you！〃 But there was a despairing note in her voice。
Dirk paused in the doorway to nod to the Housewife。 〃I thank you for your hospitality； madam。 May all go well with you。〃
She nodded； nervously； then tamed back to her baking。
Gar closed the door behind him。 〃Where to now？〃
Dirk pointed down along the village street。 〃Down there…into the forest。〃 He followed his own hand； striding long and quickly； Gar lounged along beside him。
As they came into the shadows of the leaves。 Gar mused； 〃We owe them。 You know that。〃
Dirk nodded curtly and kept walking。
But Gar stopped。 〃If your hunch means anything； the Sniffer's already onto us。 He'll know we stopped at that house。〃
Dirk whirled about； 〃We can't help that。 We've got to get out of here。〃 Gar smiled sourly。 〃Why？ They won't start the revolution without us？〃 Dirk snarled and tamed away。
Gar waited。
〃Look；〃 Dirk growled； 〃I've got to manage liaison between the rebels and the spacers。 Without that； the rebellion might fail。〃
〃What will the Lords do to that family？〃
〃A lot of peasants will die in this rebellion！〃 Dirk snapped。 〃They all think it's worth their lives…and so does that family。〃
Gar leaned on his staff； waiting。
With a despairing snarl； Dirk turned back to join him。 They found a thicket； insinuated themselves； and lay down on their bellies； peering through the screen of leaves； watching the village street。
A bee buzzed by； looking for nectar。 He took one sniff and hurried away。
〃If the local Lord has a Sniffer； he must have had one with that search party last night；〃 Gar murmured。 〃Why didn't he spot us？〃
〃For myself； I was carefully thinking of the lewdest pornography I knew。〃 Dirk tamed to him。 〃But as far as you go…it is a good question； isn't it？〃
Gar said nothing； he gazed through the leaves； the ghost of a smile on his lips。
Dirk's eyes narrowed。
Gar stiffened。 〃There they are！〃
Dirk snapped back to the village street。 A party of Soldiers walked their horses between the houses toward them； the Squire at their head。 In front of him wandered a skinny； slack…jawed churl with a matted thatch of hair and a shambling walk。 He stopped in front of the house they'd hidden in； pointing vaguely。 From their post fifty yards away。 Dirk could hear the Squire's shout； saw him wave his arm at the troopers； just barely heard the mutter that ran through （he ranks as four Soldiers dismounted and stalked up to the cottage door。 One of them pounded on the door with a fist； without waiting； another put his shoulder to the door and slammed it open。 The whole search party dove in。
They came back out a moment later； dragging the Housewife； wailing protests； herding the silent children。
The Squire swung down from his horse and strode toward them； fists on his hips。
〃Bastards？〃 Dirk rose to his knees； tensing。
Gar put a hand on his arm。 〃Not yet。〃
Dirk's head snapped around； he stared at Gar； unbelieving。
He heard the crack of a slap； turned back toward the village。 The wife staggered back against the house； hand to her cheek； the Squire stood before her； rubbing his hands。
The last Soldier dragged Madelon out the door。
The Squire turned toward her and stopped； staring。
Madelon shook the Soldier's hands off and straightened； glaring at the Squire。
The Squire came toward her swaggering； rubbing his hands again。 He nodded toward one of the Soldiers； the man uncoiled a whip from his waist as the Squire reached out to cup Madelon's chin。
For a moment； it was a frozen tableau。
Then the Squire's hand flashed to her neckline and ripped。 The Soldier behind her spun her around and slammed her face into the wall； ripping the blouse down； baring her back； the whip handler stepped up； shaking out his lash； and Dirk snapped out； 〃Move！〃
He broke from the thicket； running quick and lightly。 He heard a drumming behind him； then Gar flashed past him； giant legs devouring lengths of ground。
The Soldier's whip cracked； the children screamed； and the Housewife started wailing。 The Soldiers didn't hear Gar till he crashed into them； staff whirling in a windmill of havoc。
The end of the staff cracked into the whipman's neck at the base of the throat； he went down like a poleaxed steer； and the staff rebounded to crack alongside the head of the Soldier who held Madelon。 He slumped as Gar whirled； staff snapping up to block a sword blow； then crashing down on the Soldier's head； leaping back to catch another Soldier in the belly with its butt； while the Housewife all but threw Madelon into the hut； shooed her children； in； and followed； slamming the door。
Then the last three mounted Soldiers were in； charging。 Gar heard them ing； and spun around； but not quite quickly enough； a horse knocked him back against the wall of the hut； and a sword ripped his shoulder。
He rebounded off the wall； lifting the staff in his good hand。。。
。。。 to see an ugly stub of a pistol in th