The Hawk turned to his trumpeter. "Now!" he
cried, "Now!"
121 The trumpeter blew two long, shrill blasts on his instrument
and from the top of the hill came a great roar. Dog riders came over the
top, fanned out, and The Black Death came behind them. They hit the
enemy like a whirlwind, breaking them and driving them back. But by
some miraculous effort, before their lines broke, they managed to rally.
122 "Damn!" cried The Hawk, "Whatever else they are, they're
courageous! They're afraid of the dogs, but they seem to have
no fear of The Black Death. What's wrong?"
123 Flaming Star realized what was the matter. He fought his way to
within shouting distance of The Black Death. "Throw back your hoods!"
he cried, "Throw back your hoods! They don't know what you are!"
124 The Black Death threw back their hoods, and when The Epons saw
they were fighting people with The Creeping Death, they began to call
"Crip! Crip!" and to flee! They say Flaming Star smiled, even as the
enemy spearman thrust his weapon through his throat.
125 The Zoans and The Children of Spirit pursued for a short distance,
then were called back. They were just too weary for a long chase. The
Epons did not run far. They stopped at their campsite and regrouped.
The Hawk and his people knew they would attack again, so they took this
time to withdraw their wounded.
126 The freshest people were put to the front of the lines. Every arrow
that could be recovered was brought to the bow people. Throwing spears
and any extra spears were readied. The enemy's weapons and those of
their fallen comrades were thrown in a pile near the dead, so the enemy
could not make use of them.
127 The Lady Hawk was helping the Healers sort the wounded. The dead
she
put in one place, the dying in another. Those who needed immediate
attention in another. It was not pleasant work, but she did it well.