31 The agents spoke up. "Sir, there's something
else,"they added, "on the beaches and anchored below the docks were
hundreds of Men of War. Over half the enemy fleet is anchored there. We
spoke with a sailor. Their troops have been sent inland to fight, and
he warned us not to go into the harbor for they were impressing any
able bodied men who came ashore. It looks like the casualties we have
been
inflicting on them are beginning to take a toll!"
32 "That decides it," ordered The Hawk, "Send the word to all our
people. We sail at dawn tomorrow."
33 "Good!" announced The Lady Hawk. "Everything is ready. We will begin
loading immediately!" She nodded to her agents. They rushed to the
balcony and lit torches. On rooftops nearby other men lit torches and
so on across the top of the city until in the distance the sound of
trumpets could be heard calling men to arms. "I will have our
servants," continued The Lady Hawk, "move our things to the command
ship, immediately! We will not be getting much sleep tonight, anyway.
We
can sleep on the voyage, tomorrow!"
34 Bright Star pulled The Hawk aside. "Lord," he whispered, "I know your
closeness to your mate, and you like to have her near, but is this a
time to be taking her into danger?"
35 "What do you mean?" asked The Hawk. "Is not one time as bad as
another to take her into danger?"
36 "Surely, Lord," pleaded Bright Star, "you sleep with her every
night. Surely you have noticed the fullness of her belly!"
37 Suddenly The Hawk realized what he was talking about! He went over
to The Lady Hawk, took her hand, led her to a small room, and pulled
the curtains. There, he
opened her robes and examined her. "Good Lords!" he cried, "I am blind!
Woman, why didn't you tell me? How long have you been like
this?"