Conspirators of Gor

Chapter Thirty-Eight

“Beware! Back!” cried Desmond of Harfax, thrusting me to the side of the hall.

Four Kurii, claws scratching on the smooth tiles of the hall flooring, hurried by. They carried improvised shields of nailed wood and spears. One turned about, surveying us, eyes bright, determined that we were human, growled, and rejoined his fellows. A kajira, Chloe, sped past us, in the other direction.

“What is going on?” I asked.

“War,” said Master Desmond, “but it seems one in which we are not implicated.”

“I do not understand,” I said.

“One in which we are not yet implicated,” he said.

Astrinax appeared at our side.

“This is our opportunity,” he said, “to escape the Cave. I have been to the great portal. It is no longer guarded.”

“What of the guards?” asked Desmond.

“One is dead,” he said. “I do not know the whereabouts of the other.”

“Four Kurii, armed, passed us, a moment ago,” said Desmond.

“I think some beasts have left the Cave,” said Astrinax. “I fear chaos reigns.”

“Back,” said Desmond, and we shrank back against the wall.

“What is it?” said Astrinax.

“I do not know,” said Desmond.

“The machine,” I said. “You have not seen it. I know the sound. It is the machine!”

Approaching down the corridor, moving carefully, the stalk-like eyes rotating about, scanning, came the machine, accompanied by two shield-bearing, ax-carrying Kurii, Timarchos and Lysymachos.

“Aii!” said Astrinax.

The machine paused, and the stalk-like eyes turned toward us, but then it, and its fellows, passed us, as had the previous Kurii, but in the other direction.

I supposed that it was reconnoitering or looking for isolated foes.

I did see that the large pincer-like appendages were wet with blood. If the barbed darts with their thin cables had been fired, they had now been withdrawn into the torso of the device.

“It does exist,” said Astrinax.

“You see,” said Desmond. “Slaves can speak the truth, without the assistance of torture.”

“That is Agamemnon?” said Astrinax.

“Yes,” said Desmond.

“He is a machine?” said Astrinax.

“Now,” said Desmond. “He might have many bodies.”

“Let us gather men, who will be our allies,” said Astrinax, “acquire supplies, warm clothing, and depart. Pausanias and his wagons have gone. We have the kaissa sheets. They must be distributed. Gor must be warned.”

“We must exercise caution,” said Desmond.

“The great portal is clear,” said Astrinax.

“It is not obvious we may leave with impunity,” said Desmond. “Too, I suspect most of the men will not care to desert their gold.”

“Some may flee,” said Astrinax.

“Alone, into the mountains, with gray winter on the horizon?”

“Before the snows,” said Astrinax.

“Let them,” said Desmond. “I will remain.”

“Why?” said Astrinax.

“To kill Agamemnon,” said Desmond.