Part 33 (1/2)

He had not expected to learn the answer by being part of such a battle hie not to strike Chabano dead on the spot, and mastered it His tone was still harsh when he replied

”Oh A to the Speakers to the Living Wind?”

”Yes There are those in your caves on Thunder Mountain whose eyes and ears serve our ene the truth to each other without their hearing it”

To Wobeku, that made perfect sense To Geyrus, however, it seeripped his spear until his knuckles grew pale in fear of what he saw on the First Speaker's face

Yet nothing passed the e left his countenance His shoulders sagged then, and he seee ten years before Wobeku's eyes

”Do you trust your own folk?” he asked, as one oat

”Yes,” Chabano replied One could almost see his chest sith pride at the loyalty of the Kwanyi

”Then let us go to your nearest village, and there ill see to this speaking of the truth If there have been lies told-”

”Silence!” Chabano roared Geyrus did not take offense; he seemed to realize, as did Wobeku, that the order was not aimed at him It was aimed at the warriors around Chabano Several of thee,” and their faces said plainly that they did not care to host God-Men

Chabano's power, it seemed, was not without lian

Chabano turned and struck the man across the face with an open hand

Then he snatched the rip, broke it across his knee, and pointed at the ground The le floor and prostrated himself on it

Chabano did not lift a weapon Instead, he brought one heavy foot down hard on the man's back, several times Each ti his lip until it bled

”Be grateful for ain for the war, but avoid ht until then”

The warrior rose, unaided, for his comrades drew back fro like one sick or aged, he lurched down the path and out of sight

Wobeku did not watch hio His instincts told him that this clash was not yet done, and that the heart of the matter was still Geyrus's will

He did not dare watch the First Speaker too closely, but he tried to follow the man's eyes from one warrior to another If Geyrus raised his staff, or if his eyes lingered on one er than on the others

Neither staff nor eyes gave Wobeku a clue But he was fortunate nonetheless He ell out to the left of Chabano and so could see theto look at the with unnatural slowness His eyes see into throwing position, as if drawing his arms with it

Then suddenly the spear leaped up The warrior leaped with it-or rather, his death-grip on the weapon drew hiround

Those who saw the spectacle were ic All except Wobeku

”Chief! Behind you!” he screa up his shi+eld and thrusting with his spear

The chief's spear only stabbed air Wobeku, with more time to aim, struck home His spear sank into the warrior's side, halfway up his rib cage The man reeled, turned halfway toward Wobeku, and seeing away

Wobeku could not help it The other's eyes were now pools of crimson-and-sapphire fire, and a faintto both his weapon and his hands Then the criave way to the cri froain, and fell with the spear still protruding from his side

Wobeku knew that the man would shortly have company in death: Chabano and all his companions Nor would Chabano seek to escape that fate by fleeing It would be futile Geyrus would have his life, no matter where he fled

Wobeko hiain, any more than he could have slain the bidui boys