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But it had not。 When I looked again； they were still ing。 True； I had gained some distance on them。 But the party trooped right along after me。
Well； all right。 Things like that can sometimes happen。
There were of course two possibilities。 My mind still being more than a little disturbed from all that had just occurred； I had not performed ideally and had drawn them along with me。 Or； I had maintained a constant where I should have suppressed a variable … that is； shifted into a place and unconsciously required that the pursuit element be present。 Different guys then； but still chasing me。
I rubbed my ankle some more。 The sun brightened toward orange。 A wind out of the north raised a screen of dust and sand and hung it at my back； removing the gang from my sight。 I raced on into the west； where a line of mountains had now grown up。 Time was in a distortion phase。 My ankle felt a little better。
I rested a while。 Mine was reasonably fortable； as rocks go。 No sense turning it into a hellride when everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly。 I stretched out； hands behind my head； and watched the mountains draw nearer。 I thought about Brand and the tower。 That was the place all right。 Everything was just as it had been in the glimpse he had given me。 Except for the guards； of course。 I decided that I would cut through the proper piece of Shadow； recruit a cohort of my own； then go back and give them hell。 Yes； then everything would be fine。。。
After a time； I stretched； rolled over onto my stomach； and looked back。 Damned if they weren't still following me！ They had even gained some。
Naturally； I got angry。 To hell with flight！ They were asking for it； and it was time they got it
I rose to my feet。 My ankle was only half sore； a little numb。 I raised my arms and looked for the shadows I wanted。 I found them。
Slowly the rock swung out from its straight course into an arc； turning off to the right。 The curve tightened。 I swung through a parabola and headed back toward them； my velocity gradually increasing as I went。 No time to raise a storm at my back； though I thought that would have been a nice touch if I could have managed it。
As I swept down upon them … there were maybe two dozen … they prudently began to scatter。 A number of them didn't make it； though。 I swung through another curve and returned as soon as I could。
I was shaken by the sight of several corpses rising into the air； dripping gore； two of them already high above me。
I was almost upon them on that second pass when I realized that a few of them had jumped aboard as I had gone through。 The first one over the edge drew his blade and rushed me。 I blocked his arm； took the weapon away from him； and threw him back down。 I guess it was then that I became aware of those spurs on the backs of their hands。 I had been slashed by his。
By that time I was the target of a number of curiously shaped missiles from below； two more guys were ing over the edge； and it looked as if several more might have made it aboard。
Well； even Benedict sometimes retreats。 I had at least given the survivors something to remember。
I let go of the shadows； tore a barbed wheel from my side； another from my thigh； hacked off a guy's swordarm and kicked him in the stomach； dropped to my knees to avoid a wild swing from the next one； and caught him across the legs with my riposte。 He went over； too。
There were five more on the way up and we were sailing westward once again； leaving perhaps a dozen live ones to regroup on the sand at my back； a sky full of oozing drifters above them。
I had the advantage with the next fellow because I caught him just partway over the edge。 So much for him； and then there were four。
While I had been dealing with him； though； three more had arisen； simultaneously； at three different points。
I rushed the nearest and dispatched him； but the other two made it over and were upon me while I was about it。 As I defended myself from their attack； the final one came up and joined them。
They were not all that good； but it was getting crowded and there were a lot of points and sharp edges straying about me。 I kept parrying and moving； trying to get them to block one another； get in each other's way。 I was partly successful； and when I had the best lineup I thought I was going to get； I rushed them； taking a couple of cuts … I had to lay myself open a bit to do it … but splitting one skull for my pains。 He went over the edge and took the second one with him in a tangle of limbs and gear。
Unfortunately； the inconsiderate lout had carried off my blade； snagged in some bony cleft or other he had chosen to interpose when I swung。 It was obviously my day for losing blades； and I wondered if my horoscope would have mentioned it if I had thought to look before I'd set out。
Anyhow； I moved quickly to avoid the final guy's swing。 In doing so； I slipped on some blood and went skidding toward the front of the rock。 If I went down that way； it would plow right over me； leaving a very flat Random there； like an exotic rug； to puzzle and delight future wayfarers。
I clawed for handholds as I slid； and the guy took a couple of quick steps toward me； raising his blade to do unto me as I had his buddy。
I caught hold of his ankle； though； and it did the trick of braking me very nicely … and damned if someone shouldn't choose that moment to try to get hold of me via the Trumps。
〃I'm busy！〃 I shouted。 〃Call back later！〃 and my own motion was arrested as the guy toppled； clattered； and went sliding by。
I tried to reach him before he fell to rugdom； but I was not quite quick enough。 I had wanted to save him for questioning。 Still； my unegged beer was more than satisfactory。 I headed back top and center to observe and muse。
The survivors were still following me； but I had a sufficient lead。 I did not at the moment have to worry about another boarding party。 Good enough。 I was headed toward the mountains once again。 The sun I had conjured was beginning to bake me。 I was soaked with sweat and blood。 My wounds were giving me trouble。 I was thirsty。 Soon； soon； I decided； it would have to rain。 Take care of that before anything else。
So I began the preliminaries to a shift in that direction： clouds massing； building； darkening。。。
I drifted off somewhere along the line； had a disjointed dream of someone trying to reach me again but not making it。 Sweet darkness。
I awakened to the rain； sudden and hard…driving。 I could not tell whether the darkness in the sky was from storm； evening； or both。 It was cooler； though； and I spread my cloak and just lay there with my mouth open。 Periodically I wrung moisture from the cloak。 My thirst was eventually slaked and I began feeling clean again。 The rock had also bee so slick…looking that I was afraid to move about on it。 The mountains were much nearer； their peaks limned by frequent lightnings。 Things were too dark in the opposite direction for me to tell whether my pursuers were still with me。 It would have been pretty rough trekking for them to have kept up； but then it is seldom good policy to rely on assumptions when traveling through strange shadows。 I was a bit irritated with myself for go