you to judge us wrongly?"
41 Bright Star went to draw his weapon but The Hawk stayed his hand.
"He speaks from his grief and sorrow," The Hawk cautioned. "I will not
condemn him." To the others he continued, "To allow a man to strike a
few blows then go back and finish his victims is one thing, but to
allow you to roast a man's manhood over a low fire is another! That
could take hours for him to die. You must hear reason and act like
civilized men."
42 The men looked at each other. Slowly they threw down their mallets
and kindling and looked ashamed. "As you request, sir, that we will
do," muttered the spokesman, "we cannot forget the great service you
have done our land. That they die is enough. We will concede to your
mercy."
43 As they undid the prisoners' legs and dragged them to their feet,
one of the prisoners began to speak to Bright Star. "What is it?" asked
The Hawk.
44 "He says they are Litoans," Bright Star told him. "that these men
recognized them mainly by their clothing. He admits they took part in
the massacre. It was what the Epon Prince ordered them to do to all
captives who would not be converted, but his son just joined them
before the battle. He had no part in the massacre. He asks
that he be returned to the other prisoners."
45 The Hawk nodded. But one of the Zioans came forward. "Why should his
son be spared?" he cried. "They put a spear in MY son's back as he ran
down the street, helpless; a mere boy of eleven seasons! Why should we
spare their children? They should suffer the same fate as our own!"
46 "Man," cried The Hawk in anger, "has your grief taken your sanity?
Would you punish the innocent
with the guilty? Will you make us like the very ones we