he wore the helmet and cloak of The Lord's Guard.
He called out to the Hashons below him. "So, you break our law and
defile our world with your evil ceremonies. You'll pay for this
...dearly! All of you, up here, NOW! "
53 North saw the guard had no sword, only a dagger, but it made little
difference. The Hashons had no weapons or shields. As a matter of fact,
neither did he!
54 Turning to Gray, North spoke quickly. "It looks like he's going to
take them out the way he came in. Go back out this way, and cut around.
When he comes out of the tunnel, distract him for just a second, so he
turns that dagger away from the Hashons."
55 Gray nodded, and hurried off, while North searched the tunnel for
what he needed. Finally he saw a discarded piece of old pipe, about
three feet long. He picked it up, and, felt its weight. "It will do,"
he whispered, "if he hasn't got his shields on."
56 North hurried down the shaft where the guard and Hashons had gone.
Now he used all the skills his training had given him. He matched his
steps exactly to those of the guard until as he cleared the entrance,
he was just behind him.
57 "Hey, you!" cried Gray, "What are you doing there?" He dove for
cover as the guard's weapon turned towards him.
58 North brought the pipe down against the back of the man's neck with
such force that he must've broken several of the bones. For his head
flopped over instantly. His dagger discharged and the deadly beam blew
away chunks of the rock behind which Gray hid. But it was the guard's
death grip that had fired the weapon. The man's legs folded, and he
fell to the ground, face first.
59 "You all right?" North screamed to his friend.
60 "Yes," Gray replied, "but that was damned close!"
61 "Yes," North agreed, "it was. Better get over here and put his
weapon back in his scabbard while I find something to bandage my hand
with."