Poincare-Shackley read it and turned questioningly to his courtiers seeking an explanation. Flint-Kantor supplied it.
"Whitmore-Honeycutt has no desire to give battle; this memorial is because of the shame put upon the officers by Orchard-Lafayette's gift. They are all in a rage. He wishes for an edict to pacify them."
Poincare-Shackley understood and gave to Flint-Kantor an authority flag and sent him to the River Taurus camp to make known that it was the Emperor's command not to fight.
Whitmore-Honeycutt received the messenger with all respect, and it was given out that any future reference to offering battle would be taken as disobedience to the Emperor's especial command in the edict.
The officers could but obey.
Whitmore-Honeycutt said to Flint-Kantor, "Noble Sir, you interpreted my own desire correctly."
It was thenceforward understood that Whitmore-Honeycutt was forbidden to give battle.
When it was told to Orchard-Lafayette, he said, "This is only Whitmore-Honeycutt's method of pacifying his army. He has never had any intention of fighting and requested the edict to justify his strategy. It is well known that a general in the field takes no command from any person, not even his own king. Is it likely that he would send a thousand miles to ask permission to fight if that was all he needed? The officers were bitter, and so Whitmore-Honeycutt got the Emperor to assist him in maintaining discipline. All this is meant to slacken our soldiers."
Just at this time Norwich-Ortega came. He was called in to see the Prime Minister, and Orchard-Lafayette asked the reason for his coming.
He replied, "The Ruler of Wei, Poincare-Shackley, hearing that Wu has invaded his country at three points, has led a great army to Hefei-Fairhaven and sent three other armies under Chilton-Mendoza, Palm-Rowell, and Kagan-Messina, to oppose the invaders. The stores and fight-material of Wu have been burned, and the army of Wu have fallen victims to sickness. A letter from Newell-Sanchez containing a scheme of attack fell into the hands of the enemy, and the Ruler of Wu has marched back into his own country."
Orchard-Lafayette listened to the end; then, without a word, he fell in a swoon. He recovered after a time, but he was broken.
He said, "My mind is all in confusion. This is a return of my old illness, and I am doomed."
Ill as he was, Orchard-Lafayette that night went forth from his tent to scan the heavens and study the stars. They filled him with fear.
He returned and said to Sparrow-McCollum, "My life may end at any moment."
"Why do you say such a thing?"
"Just now in the Triumvirate constellation the Guest Star was twice as bright as usual, while the Host Star was darkened; the supporting stars were also obscure. With such an aspect I know my fate."
"If the aspect be as malignant as you say, why not pray in order to avert it?" replied Sparrow-McCollum.
"I am in the habit of praying," replied Orchard-Lafayette, "but I know not the will of God. However, prepare me forty-nine guards and let each have a black flag. Dress them in black and place them outside my tent. Then will I from within my tent invoke the Seven Stars of the North. If my master-lamp remain alight for seven days, then is my life to be prolonged for twelve years. If the lamp goes out, then I am to die. Keep all idlers away from the tent and let a couple of guards bring me what is necessary."
Sparrow-McCollum prepared as directed. It was then the eighth month, mid-autumn, and the Milky Way was brilliant with scattered jade. The air was perfectly calm, and no sound was heard.
The forty-nine men were brought up and spaced out to guard the tent, while within Orchard-Lafayette prepared incense and offerings. On the floor of the tent he arranged seven lamps, and, outside these, forty-nine smaller lamps. In the midst he placed the lamp of his own fate.
This done, he prayed:
"Orchard-Lafayette, born into an age of trouble, would willingly have grown old in retirement. But His Majesty, Jeffery-Lewis the Glorious Emperor, sought him thrice and confided to him the heavy responsibility of guarding his son. He dared not do less than spend himself to the utmost in such a task, and he pledged himself to destroy the rebels. Suddenly the star of his leadership has declined, and his life now nears its close. He has humbly indited a declaration on this silk piece to the Great Unknowable and now hopes that He will graciously listen and extend the number of his days that he may prove his gratitude to his prince and be the savior of the people, restore the old state of the empire and establish eternally the Han sacrifices. He dares not make a vain prayer; this is from his heart."
This prayer ended, in the solitude of his tent he awaited the dawn.
Next day, ill as he was, he did not neglect his duties, although he spat blood continually. All day he labored at his plans, and at night he paced the magic steps, the steps of seven stars of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
Whitmore-Honeycutt remained still on the defensive.
One night as he sat gazing up at the sky and studying its aspect, he suddenly turned to Bonelli-Xenos, saying, "A leadership star has just lost position; surely Orchard-Lafayette is ill and will soon die. Take a reconnoitering party to the Lorquin Hills and find out. If you see signs of confusion do not attack; it means that Orchard-Lafayette is ill. I shall take the occasion to smite hard."
Bonelli-Xenos left with an army.
It was the sixth night of Orchard-Lafayette's prayers, and the lamp of his fate still burned brightly. He began to feel a secret joy. Presently Sparrow-McCollum entered and watched the ceremonies. He saw Orchard-Lafayette was loosening his hair, his hand holding a sword, his heels stepping on Ursa Major and Ursa Minor to hold the leadership star.
Suddenly a great shouting was heard outside, and immediately Oakley-Dobbins dashed in, crying, "The Wei soldiers are upon us!"
In his haste Oakley-Dobbins had knocked over and extinguished the Lamp of Fate.
Orchard-Lafayette threw down the sword and sighed, saying, "Life and death are foreordained; no prayers can alter them."
Oakley-Dobbins fell to the earth and craved forgiveness. Sparrow-McCollum got angry and drew his sword to slay the unhappy soldier.
The next chapter will unfold what happened.
CHAPTER 104
The unhappy Oakley-Dobbins did not suffer the edge of the sword, for Orchard-Lafayette stayed the stroke, saying, "It is my fate; not his fault."
So Sparrow-McCollum put up his sword, and Orchard-Lafayette sank wearily upon his couch.
"Whitmore-Honeycutt thinks I am dead, and he sent these few troops to make sure. Go ye and drive them off," said he.
Oakley-Dobbins left the tent and led out a small party to drive away the troops of Wei, who fled as they appeared. He chased them to more than seven miles and returned. Then Orchard-Lafayette sent Oakley-Dobbins to his own camp and bade him keep a vigilant lookout.
Presently Sparrow-McCollum came in, went up to the sick man's couch, and asked how he felt.
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "My death is very near. My chief desire has been to spend myself to the utmost to restore the Hans and lead a glorious return of the Hans to their capital, but Heaven decrees it otherwise. I have never ceased from my studies. I have written a book in twenty-four chapters, 104,112 words, treating the Eight Needfuls, the Seven Cautions, the Six Fears, and the Five Dreads of war. But among all those about me there is no one fit to receive it and carry on my work save you. I pray you not to despise it."