closed his eyes when someone was shaking him. To
his surprise, it was The Lady Hawk. "The light's coming," she announced.
"Here, I've got you some hot broth and bread. It's not much of a
breakfast, but our provisions are nearly gone.What if we have to fight
for several days?"
99 "I'll send you for provisions!" answered The Hawk, yawning. He let
his people sleep, as he went up on the hill and surveyed the scene
below. He did not like what he saw.
100 Bright Star had picked a good defensive position. The road went
down a long, steep hill. Then, as it leveled out the passage began
to widen out like a funnel. Beyond the funnel's end, in the open plain
was the enemy's campsites. The Hawk took a rough count of The Zoans,
added them to his own people, then estimated the odds. "I'd figure
about nine or ten to one," he moaned aloud. "This is going to be
interesting!"
101 He had his dog riders, who were about one-forth his number, and he
had The Black Death, which were about one-eighth. Already a plan was
beginning to form in his mind. If he left another one-eighth of his men
up here, half his strength, and took the rest down, maybe he could pull
a favorite trick of his people and draw the enemy into a bad position.
102 If The Epons had never heard of war dogs and The Black Death, they
would be a sudden horror if they met them unexpectedly, in battle.
103 Below him the enemy was beginning to move. In ragged groups they
were gathering before Bright Star. "They don't seem to be too well
organized," muttered The Hawk.
104 "And I swear," added The Lady Hawk, "some of them are naked!"
105 "If they are," said The Hawk, "all the better for our bow people!''
He began to raise his people. "Everyone