"There was a massacre here, was there not?” inquired Cabot.
"It was long ago,” said Lord Grendel.
"It seems a good place for a massacre,” said Cabot.
"So, it does,” said Lord Grendel, “and I do not doubt but what Flavion selected it with that thought in mind."
"It would be hard to climb the slopes, to escape,” said Cabot.
"We will be encircled,” said Lord Grendel. “One would climb into the very muzzles of weaponry."
"The depression, too,” said Cabot, “makes a splendid crossfire possible, from which oppositely situated cohorts would be in little danger."
"I trust, too,” said Lord Grendel, “you are aware of certain resonances here which would be savored by Lord Agamemnon."
"I was informed of the message of the stele,” said Cabot, “that it was here, in this very place, though long ago, that an Eleventh Face of the Nameless One became Theocrat of the World."
"Flavion and Agamemnon, it seems,” said Lord Grendel, “could not resist having their moment of theatricality."
"Is that you, Archon?” asked Cabot.
"Yes,” said Archon.
"Are you all right?” asked Cabot.
"I feel like a tethered verr,” said he, “staked out by hunters, hoping to lure in a larl."
"The analogy is apt,” said Statius, “save that there may be no hunters."
"How many are here?” asked Cabot. Reports had come to Lord Grendel from time to time, consonant with the arrivals of diverse groups.
"Most, if not all,” said Lord Grendel.
"Four then, or five, hundred,” said Cabot.
"Three hundred and fifty, perhaps four hundred,” said Lord Grendel.
"The trenches have been dug,” said Statius.
This had been done easily enough, and presumably unnoted by an enemy, for it would approach later, utilizing the cover of darkness.
"They will provide little protection,” said Archon, “if the minions of Agamemnon stand over them, or enter them, filling them with fire."
"How long until dawn?” asked Cabot.
"Not long,” said Lord Grendel, “as we are now well gathered."
"No,” said Cabot. “Surely Ahn."
"My dear Cabot,” said Lord Grendel, “you are not now on Gor, but within a Steel World. Dusks, dawns, nights, days, are muchly subject to discretion."
"Yes,” said Cabot.
"And weathers, and such,” said Lord Grendel.
"I see,” said Cabot.
"I wonder if the daylight will come brightly, instantly,” said Statius. “Our human allies would then be briefly blinded, as they are so tardy in their optical adjustments."
"Given the graduality of dawns and dusks on the worlds in which the human evolved,” said Lord Grendel, “there was little need for rapid optical adjustments."
If I might add a note here, it should be understood that the human being is primarily a diurnal form of life. More importantly, the Kur might emerge suddenly from the darkness of caves into bright sunlight, to hunt, and, say, the sleen might similarly emerge suddenly from darkness, though commonly from its burrow. It seems reasonably clear then that the Nameless One, in its wisdom, or its blind, adventitious lotteries, casting its cards as it pleased, favored swift optical adjustments in the Kur, and the sleen, and doubtless in several other forms of life, as well. The sleen, incidentally, is predominantly a nocturnal animal. The Kur, we note, can function efficiently, and comfortably, in both light and darkness, provided the darkness is not absolute. In this respect the Kur is clearly superior to the human, at least. As the human is predominantly a diurnal animal, its dark vision is, we suppose, relatively unimportant. To be sure, it can make adjustments to varying light conditions, but, as noted, these adjustments are relatively slow, or slow, at least, compared to those of the Kur and sleen.
"If I were Agamemnon,” said Lord Grendel, “I would in my arrangements lighten the world somewhat but, on the whole, keep it rather dark. In this way his folk may function effectively, directing their fire efficiently, and our humans will be essentially helpless, effectively neutralized."
"Aii!” cried Cabot, suddenly, in pain, and shouts of dismay rang through the field, from both Kur and human, for the world was suddenly, instantly, flooded with an intense light.
"Trenches!” cried Lord Grendel, and others.
And those in the valley, Kur and human, flung themselves bodily into these narrow, rude shelters.
Then, just as suddenly, it seemed, certainly from Cabot's perspective, the world was plunged into complete darkness, and, then, at the same time, lines of fire, traceable as streaks from all sides, many crisscrossing, tore into the valley.
Even the Kurii in the valley were temporarily blinded.
The forces of Agamemnon, forewarned, had, at a signal, it was later determined, closed or covered their eyes, opening them, adjusted as they had been for the darkness, a moment later, and opened fire.
It had taken the forces of Agamemnon a moment after the blast of light to align their weapons and begin to empty a thousand charges into the valley, but, to their amazement, a moment later, it seemed that the valley was empty.
This caused consternation in their ranks, but this was decidedly temporary, as the nature of their foes’ disappearance was readily explicable.
Indeed, very shortly, the firing ceased.
"I cannot see,” said Cabot. “Grendel, are you here? Where are you?"
"We must congratulate Agamemnon,” said Lord Grendel. His voice came from Cabot's right. “His brilliance is unparalleled. Not even we could adjust from darkness to that light in so brief a time. Had we not prepared the trenches most of us would now be dead."
"Can you see?” said Cabot.
"What a splendid enemy is Agamemnon!” said Lord Grendel, rapturously. “Let us salute him! Great enemies make for great wars. To be opposed to so great an enemy does our small and lowly cause infinite honor. To challenge larls is noble, to stamp on urts is inglorious, even embarrassing."
"I fear we are the urts,” said Cabot. “Can you see?"
"Certainly,” said Lord Grendel. “Can you?"
"No,” said Cabot.
"Wait a few moments,” said Lord Grendel.
Some desultory fire came from one side or another, but it did little more than gouge up buckets of earth, and, here and there, as later became clear, tear and blacken grass.
Then, again, the firing stopped.
"Charges are precious,” said Lord Grendel. “They will not waste them. They will come down to finish us off."
"I cannot see to use the bow,” said Cabot.
"Do not concern yourself,” said Lord Grendel. “Those who rise from the trench with weapons will be the first targeted."
"They will not meet you with axes?” said Cabot.
"Certainly not,” said Lord Grendel.
"We have failed,” said Cabot.
"Do not despair,” said Lord Grendel.
At that point it became lighter in the world.
Even the humans could see.
But no enemies descended into the Vale of Destruction.
The rebels waited in the trenches.
Some moments later they were addressed by a loud, mechanically reproduced voice, smiting the vale with authority. It spoke in Kur, but those humans with translators, as Cabot, had no difficulty in following it.