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He rebounded off the wall； lifting the staff in his good hand。。。
。。。 to see an ugly stub of a pistol in the Squire's hand； pointing at his belly。 Gar stood； frozen。
The Squire lifted the pistol； sighting along the barrel at Gar's eyes。
Dirk slammed into the Squire's back。 The pistol hissed a shaft of blue light as he fell； it licked the roof of the hut； which exploded into flames。 Then the Squire hit dirt with Dirk on top。 He tried to roll； but Dirk rose to one knee and chopped down with the blade of his hand。 The Squire went limp。
The horsemen were galloping back for a second try； and two of the footmen were staggering to their feet。 Gar leaped aside as the horsemen charged past； but the last horseman slewed around； tracking him； sword swinging down。 Gar swung his staff； and the sword spun away； ringing； but a footman stepped up behind Gar； swinging a dagger。
The door of the hut flew open； slammed into the Soldier's face。 Madelon stepped out； the rags of her blouse tied around her neck and a cleaver in her hand。
The horseman with the bruised hand swung his mount toward her。 The other two went for Gar； closing in from opposite sides。
Dirk took a running leap； pole…vaulting on his staff； feet aimed for the rider who was cornering Madelon。
The last foot soldier swung his sword； chopped Dirk's staff out from under him。
The ground leaped up and slammed Dirk flat on his back。 Agony screamed through him； he couldn't breathe。 A body came between him and the sun； a club barreled toward him； swelling to fill the world。 Then pain exploded； and blackness； and there wasn't much to remember after that。
CHAPTER 3
He was drifting through infinite blackness。 Somewhere far away； there were stars…he knew that…just because he couldn't see them didn't mean they weren't there。
A tiny pinpoint of light 。 。 。 There！ He'd known he had eyes！ And the pinpoint grew； swelling； no； it was rushing closer； it was a head； or a face； anyway； framed with white； floating hair； and it had eyes…great； luminous blue eyes； or turquoise； anyway； what matter if the rest of the face was too blurred to see； it was a good face； he knew it； he had to have faith。。。
〃Little out of your depth； aren't you？〃 it asked。 It had a voice like a brazen gong； only it wasn't sound； really。。。
〃Dunno；〃 Dirk said astutely。 〃How deep is it here？〃
〃Up to your clavicles；〃 the face answered； 〃and it's rising。 Don't you think you ought to back off and just float with the tide？〃
That jarred； somehow； fortable though it was here； there was the feeling of seduction； of somebody trying to get him to do something pleasant that be knew was wrong； that he didn't want to do。。。
Dirk shook his metaphorical head。 〃No； I mean； you're a great guy； and all that； but 。 。 。 Well； how do I know it'll flow？ I mean； somebody's got to make the tide move。〃
〃Let somebody else do it；〃 the face suggested。
Dirk considered that It was tempting 。 。 。 Tempting！ That jarred。 No； if it was tempting； it had to be wrong。 He shook his head stubbornly。 〃No thanks。 I'll stand pat。〃
The face shrugged somehow。 〃Your choice。 You should remember the option； though。〃 The eyes frowned； peering。 〃But I see you're almost back。 Well； remember。〃 And it turned away。
〃Hey； wait a minute！〃 Dirk felt suddenly clearheaded。
The face turned back patiently。 〃Yes？〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃The Wizard of the Far Tower；〃 the face said。 〃Didn't anyone tell you？〃
It turned away and shrank； going fast； and winked out。
And Dirk felt himself sinking； felt the blackness closing in over him。 He fought it； fighting to rise； to move upward； pushing against the weight of it； the weight of his eyelids； they were heavy； all his strength did no good； he couldn't direct it； couldn't channel it to the eyelids； couldn't release it； he needed the valve； just turn it to release strength； the valve…word…any word…but his tongue and lips were swollen； heavy with a ton of inertia； he couldn't release strength to them； either。 He fought； straining； to part his lips just enough to release breath； to move the slug…tongue； no matter how little。。。
He felt it； he'd managed it； and it moved easier now； strength flooded through； 〃Puhleeeze。。。〃
And he felt his body about him again； felt grass against his back； arms； and legs； heard a sibilance of breeze； far…off bird…song； saw the red of light through closed eyelids。
He moved an arm； rolling toward it； thrust with all the strength in his body； and levered himself up on one elbow。 He opened his eyes； looked around； saw grass； tree trunks； leaves； and a tow…headed boy； wide and squat； his mouth open in shock。
Dirk frowned and floundered； pulling himself up to a sitting position。 〃Hey； kid。。。 What。。。〃
The boy's mouth snapped shut； terrified。
Then he turned and leaped； crashing through the under…brush。 Gone。
Dirk stared numbly after him； feeling sluggish and fuzzy。
His eyes wandered； he saw a body lying beside him； bright full skirt and bare back； with one wavy line of dried blood across it； shoulders shrouded in dark hair。
Madelon！ He shook his head； trying to clear it； and the whole fight came back。
Her head stirred； she forced herself halfway up on her elbows。 Her head turned； the face tilted up to him； pale； wide…eyed； puzzled； and…yes； a little afraid。
Small wonder。 He wasn't exactly feeling bold； himself。
She gave her head a shake； squeezing her eyes shut； then forced herself up to a sitting position and pressed a hand to her forehead with a little moan。
Her blouse…or what was left of it…stayed behind on the ground。 For a moment； all Dirk saw was her round； full breasts； the nipples like half…ripe cherries； all else seemed dim。 He stiffened； galvanized even through the pain of his headache； then he forced his eyes up to her face。
She bowed her head forward； fingertips pressed against her forehead； black hair tumbled forward to hide her body。 Dirk exhaled in relief。
She looked up at him； blinking； frowning against the pain。 〃How。。。 what。。。？〃
Dirk forced his lethargy down and threw on rationality like a cloak。 〃I'd like to know； myself。 The last thing I remember is a pike butt hitting me between the eyes。 But why didn't the Squire take us in as prisoners？〃
She nodded； then winced。 〃Yes 。 。 。 And where's your friend？〃
Dirk shrugged。 〃They probably did take him in。 That means。。。 I'll have to find a way to get him out。〃
〃Yes。〃 She frowned。 〃How much does he know？〃
Dirk shrugged。 〃Not much； for sure。 All he knows about rebellion is meeting the two of us。〃
Her eyes narrowed。 〃Just what is he？〃
Dirk sat very still for a moment So much for his story about Gar being a churl。
〃A tourist；〃 he said slowly。 〃A man who goes visiting places just to see what they're like。 Probably a rich man's son； looking for someplace where he can do Good。〃
〃Then he is not a churl。〃 Her tone was a frosted dagger。
Dirk shook his head。
Her voice trembled with rage。 〃Why did you bring him？〃
〃I didn