78 The men picked her up, carried her to her bed,
put her in her sleeping robe, and departed. In the morning she rose,
ate and ordered her dog ready.
79 Her Healer objected but she silenced him. "Today," she said, "I
ride. If I am to order such a horror I will not hide from it. I will
witness its completion. I will give the order with my own mouth, for it
to be done. Then, if any question the decency of it, it will be I who
is to answer, and none other." So, taking the rockets they went out.
80 Flaming Serpent's Rocketeers sat their weapon, judged their range,
and waited for their signal. Little Blossom sat on her dog, staring at
the ground, shifting her weight now and again, trying to be
comfortable. They waited for the wind to be in the right direction.
Finally it blew steady on their backs, right at the enemy.
81 "I pray The Lords forgive us," ordered Little Blossom, "and
hopefully that someday these men will, also. Open fire!"
82 The enemy, thinking they were secure and out of range of Spirits
cannon, wondered what mischief they were up to. When they saw the
streaking rockets they laughed, knowing how little damage these weapons
did. But as the rockets exploded short, and the billowing clouds began
to form descending towards them, their laughter died. When the clouds
settled over them, it turned to screams.
83 The Children of Spirit advanced, as soon as the clouds drifted away,
but they met no resistance. The entire enemy line, thousands of men,
lay coughing and screaming. Some had used their weapons on themselves,
putting their pistols