you're rested, and that's properly seen to, I'm
in command! Any objections?"
69 "No," answered Thundering Dove, "but get everything ready. We're
marching on Fo in the morning if I have to be carried."
70 They did, and he was! When they reached the city they found the
enemy had withdrawn. The gates were open and the city was empty. For
some unknown reason they hadn't even burned it. The Children of Spirit
took possession. A decent house was found that didn't stink too bad,
and they began cleaning up the rest of the city, while Thundering Dove
got some rest.
71 Soldiers of The Oneness were NOT good housekeepers! The whole city
was like a pig pen, and there were even discarded orders laying about
in some of the houses that the War Leaders had used. From
these they learned that with the failure of their attack they feared
their forces were too drawn out, too vulnerable.
72 There were some references to "That battle whore and her pimp,"
being the cause of their defeat. Reinforcements were coming, but they
would rally at the chosen defense points to the south, where it would
be easier for them to be supplied.
73 "They're stretched to their limit," said Thundering Dove. "They
would not have abandoned this city without a fight, if they had any
reserves at all, to throw in. Now they're drawing up their lines.
They'll protect their passage east with everything they've got. It's
time we made them pull in some of their forces.
74 Send out the word. I want every ship we have, every man-of-war. We
can't take fighting people from the field to hold this city, so I want
women volunteers from every other city, enough to garrison this one.
The mates of the men already here would be nice.