JК
Tarnsman of Gor :: Норман Джон
Страница: 113 из 145They crave political power, but can't understand it or manipulate it. They will never withstand a well-mounted siege. They will never keep the city."
"Can't you enter the city and take power?" I asked. "You could return the Home Stone. You could gather a following."
"Yes," said Marlenus. "I could return the Home Stone — and there are those who would follow me — but there are not enough, not enough. How many would rally to the banner of an outlaw? No, the power of the Initiates must first be broken."
"Do you have a way into the city?" I asked.
Marlenus looked at me narrowly. "Perhaps," he said.
"Then I have a counter plan," I said. "Strike for the Home Stones of those cities tributary to Ar — they are kept on the Central Cylinder. If you seize them, you can divide Pa-Kur's horde, give the Home Stones to the contingents of the tributary cities, provided they withdraw their forces. If they do not, destroy the Stones."
"The soldiers of the Twelve Tributary Cities," he said, "want loot, vengeance, the women of Ar, not just their Stones."
"Perhaps some of them fight for their freedom for the right to keep their own Home Stone," I said. "Surely not all of Pa-Kur's horde are adventurers, mercenaries." Noting the Ubar's interest, I went on. "Besides, few of the soldiers of Gor, barbarians though they might be, would risk the destruction of their city's Home Stone — the luck of their birthplace."
"But," said Marlenus, frowning, "if the siege is lifted, the Initiates will be left in power."
"And Marlenus will not resume the throne of Ar," I said "But the city will be safe." I looked at Marlenus, testing the man. "What is it, Ubar, that you hold dearest your city or your title? Do you seek the welfare of Ar or your private glory?"
Marlenus leaped to his feet, hurling the yellow robes of the Afflicted from him, drawing his blade from its sheath with a metallic flash. "A Ubar," he cried, "answers such a question only with his sword! My weapon, too, had flashed from its sheath almost simultaneously. We faced each other for a long, terrible moment; then Marlenus threw back his head and laughed his great lion laugh, slamming his sword back into its sheath. "Your plan is a good one," he said "My men and I will enter the city tonight."
"And I shall go with you," I said.
"No," said Marlenus. "The men of Ar need no help from a warrior of Ko-ro-ba."
"Perhaps," suggested Mintar, "the young tarnsman might attend to the matter of Talena, daughter of Marlenus."
"Where is she?" I demanded.
"We are not certain," said Mintar.
"Can't you enter the city and take power?" I asked. "You could return the Home Stone. You could gather a following."
"Yes," said Marlenus. "I could return the Home Stone — and there are those who would follow me — but there are not enough, not enough. How many would rally to the banner of an outlaw? No, the power of the Initiates must first be broken."
"Do you have a way into the city?" I asked.
Marlenus looked at me narrowly. "Perhaps," he said.
"Then I have a counter plan," I said. "Strike for the Home Stones of those cities tributary to Ar — they are kept on the Central Cylinder. If you seize them, you can divide Pa-Kur's horde, give the Home Stones to the contingents of the tributary cities, provided they withdraw their forces. If they do not, destroy the Stones."
"The soldiers of the Twelve Tributary Cities," he said, "want loot, vengeance, the women of Ar, not just their Stones."
"Perhaps some of them fight for their freedom for the right to keep their own Home Stone," I said. "Surely not all of Pa-Kur's horde are adventurers, mercenaries." Noting the Ubar's interest, I went on. "Besides, few of the soldiers of Gor, barbarians though they might be, would risk the destruction of their city's Home Stone — the luck of their birthplace."
"But," said Marlenus, frowning, "if the siege is lifted, the Initiates will be left in power."
"And Marlenus will not resume the throne of Ar," I said "But the city will be safe." I looked at Marlenus, testing the man. "What is it, Ubar, that you hold dearest your city or your title? Do you seek the welfare of Ar or your private glory?"
Marlenus leaped to his feet, hurling the yellow robes of the Afflicted from him, drawing his blade from its sheath with a metallic flash. "A Ubar," he cried, "answers such a question only with his sword! My weapon, too, had flashed from its sheath almost simultaneously. We faced each other for a long, terrible moment; then Marlenus threw back his head and laughed his great lion laugh, slamming his sword back into its sheath. "Your plan is a good one," he said "My men and I will enter the city tonight."
"And I shall go with you," I said.
"No," said Marlenus. "The men of Ar need no help from a warrior of Ko-ro-ba."
"Perhaps," suggested Mintar, "the young tarnsman might attend to the matter of Talena, daughter of Marlenus."
"Where is she?" I demanded.
"We are not certain," said Mintar.