Cabot may have had in mind the caste of Initiates, on Gor, who claim to speak in the name of the Priest-Kings, to be privileged in such ways, and so on.
"No one would dare to pretend such a thing,” said another.
"Perhaps Agamemnon is more inventive, or enterprising, or less honorable, or bolder, or more daring, than you suppose,” said Cabot.
"He is Kur,” said another.
"But,” said Cabot, “as Lord Grendel once called to my attention, ‘What is Kur'?"
"Desist, desist,” said Lord Grendel.
"Very well,” said Cabot.
"Many of those opposed to us, the purple scarves, now have power weapons,” said Lord Grendel. “We know this from Lord Flavion, and, indeed, from others, as well."
"Some could destroy the world,” said a Kur.
"It would be madness to use them,” said another.
"There are smaller weapons,” said Cabot.
"Many,” said another, “but contained in the arsenals, at the terminations of the world."
The world, as may be recalled, was cylindrical. The ends of the world, then, were the flat caps, or poles, closing the cylinder, at each end. If one might imagine a horizontal axis stretching between these caps, that would constitute what, in effect, would be a gravity-free zone, rather like that in the shuttles. To ascend to this zone by climbing the flat caps, toward their center, can be dangerous or difficult. Caught by the rotation, one could be hurled downward, and dashed to the ground, and, without aid, it could be an almost insurmountable climb to ascend against the rotation, until one had ascended far enough for it to be neutralized, and one would have approached the gravity-free, or low-gravity, axis. One of these caps, that nearest the habitats, was, however, affixed with rings and grasps, by means of which one might approach the arsenal. Agamemnon's aerial scouts utilized these conveniences, until flight became possible. One such scout, or flier, had been detected some time ago, by Cabot and Lord Grendel, while on the raft, on Lake Fear. At that time they had supposed themselves unnoted. Later events suggested that their surmise had been mistaken.
"One such arsenal has been accessed,” said Lord Grendel. This would be the arsenal nearest the habitats, that nearest, as well, the palace, and enclave, of Agamemnon.
"True,” said a Kur. “It is from it that Agamemnon has armed his minions."
"What of the other arsenal?” said Cabot.
"It is unreachable,” said a Kur. “It is unfurnished with appurtenances."
It is interesting to note that if the ends of the world had been hemispherical, or conical, as in several of the worlds, the approach would have been, while still dangerous, yet more practical, as the rotational gravity would have pressed one against a resistant surface, it lessening, of course, as one approached the axis. The flat caps, on the other hand, provided no such purchase.
"All is lost,” said a Kur.
"Two possibilities suggest themselves,” said Statius, he who had once been a nondominant. “First, we storm the nearest termination of the world, utilizing the grasps at hand, and attempt to avail ourselves of weapons."
"The arsenal will be guarded,” said a Kur.
"Of course,” said Statius. “We expect to fail."
"If one could approach the axis,” said a Kur, “one might, if winged, then attempt the far arsenal, by flight."
"Build wings,” said Lord Grendel.
"The other possibility,” said Statius, “is far more dangerous. It is to attempt the far arsenal."
"Directly?” asked a Kur.
"Yes,” said Statius.
"There are no grasps, no rings,” said a Kur. “It is reached by flight, from the vicinity of the nearer arsenal."
"Spikes, driven into the metal?” said a Kur.
"It is solid steel, feet thick,” said Statius.
"Air can provide a seal,” said Cabot. “Cups of rubber, pressed against the steel."
"We have no such material,” said a Kur.
"Nor, if we had, even the means to form such devices,” said another.
"Something similar,” said Statius. “Adhesive substances. Ropes, and such substances."
"It is madness,” said another.
"Let a hundred try,” said Lord Grendel.
"I will lead them,” said Cabot.
"And who will attempt the arsenal of Agamemnon?” asked a Kur.
"I,” said Lord Grendel, “and any mad enough to follow me."
"I am with you,” said the Kur.
"And what of you, Lord Flavion?” asked Grendel.
"It is madness,” said Flavion, “but I, too, am with you."
"Good,” said Lord Grendel. “Let us begin to build wings."
"Water, Sirs?” asked the Lady Bina, who held a ewer.
"How long has she been here?” asked a Kur.
"Not long,” said a Kur.
"Kill her,” said Lord Flavion.
"No,” said Lord Grendel.
Chapter, the Forty-Seventh:
HOW THE TARNS OF VICTORY
CAME TO SURMOUNT THE STANDARDS OF AGAMEMNON
It was a long, weird cry, from Cabot's left, and he reached out his hand, wildly, but could not grasp the outstretched, clutching hand of the human, one from the cages, to his left.
He did see him descending, moving in the air, for some seconds, but did not see him strike the side of the cylinder, as he disappeared through the greenery, hundreds of yards below.
Four others had similarly fallen, who had not reached his own point. Most of those who had come with him had been unable to adhere to the flat surface. Few had managed to climb more than ten to fifteen yards onto the cap, from the cylinder surface. Cabot, and some with him, were the first to essay the climb. They had smeared their bodies and clothing, and the flats of their hands with a resinous, tarlike substance. They were climbing against the rotation. To climb with it, as they would be carried about in the rotation, courted the danger of being flung headlong from the cap before they could approach the gravity-free zone. Climbing against it was difficult but one was less likely to be swept about and dashed to the ground. One would do one's best to adhere to the surface and then, as possible, now and again, move a foot or two, at a time, closer to the center of the cap.
Cabot heard another cry of misery and saw one of his fellows slipping down the surface, scratching at it with his finger nails, and then, he, too, lost the surface, was loose in the air, turning, and disappeared in the greenery below.
"Go back!” cried Cabot to those with him. “Go back! Go back, while you can!"
Inch by inch, he saw two of his fellows, flattened against the steel, moving downward.
"Come with us!” cried a fellow, one from the forest cylinder. Cabot remembered him from the camp of Archon.
Those from the forest world, as noted earlier, were being taught speech. In this way, they might communicate the better amongst themselves, and with other humans. Already most had mastered a thousand or more words.
"Go back!” repeated Cabot, fiercely, and he, himself, moved another perilous foot toward the center.
It was little wonder this area was not guarded.
Humans were lighter, and smaller, than Kurii, and better adapted to this venture than would have been their larger, heavier, allies.
For a Kur it seemed clear this climb would be death.
For a human it might be possible, somehow.
It must be possible, somehow!
Agamemnon, Cabot was sure, in the dark gaming of war, had not anticipated humans intruding into this fearsome venue.
He moved another foot.
He felt the artificial gravity of the rotation seeming to push against him. The sensation was much like lying on a turning disk, from which one might be thrown free, but the consequence of a lost purchase here was not a slipping from the disk to the side, but rather analogous to a plunge from a cliff.
"Hold, hold,” whispered Cabot to the viscous sludge by which he was held to the steel. “Hold, hold!"