96  The Voice knew that their position was not good, but if they were forced back from the barricade they could hold the doorway, and if they were forced back from there, they could make their final stand at the inner stairs.
    97  He saw the old servants who were no longer busy building the barricade working feverishly at the fireplace with pots and pans.  "Do they still think," he wondered, "that we will have time for supper?"
    98  He selected those who were best with throwing spears and gave them these weapons.  "These will be no good," he instructed, "under the balcony. It will be risky for you, but stand out in the yard, wait for the enemy to get close enough, use your weapons, then leap back in over the barricade. Hopefully, you will make it back before the enemy reaches you."
    99  "Yes," agreed one of his guards, "Hopefully!"
    100  The servant who had been left to watch the gate was motioning for The Voice to come over. "They're doing something up the street," he warned.  "They brought up an ox cart, then led away the ox. Now I hear all kinds of grunts and groans and loud thumpings."
    101  The Voice realized in a moment, what they were doing.  Great Bear's house sat on a corner.  The gate looked directly up the street. An ox cart filled with paving stones, would pick up a great deal of speed as it rolled freely down the street.  With many men to guide it, it would come crashing through even this heavy gate with little effort. 
    102  The Voice returned to the others.  "They have a way," he warned, "to take the gate. Our decision not to stand in the yard was wise. They will be coming anytime. Get ready."
    103  Hardly had he finished speaking, than there came a loud rattling from the street and the cries of many excited voices.  There was a terrible crash, and the gate flew apart.  The ox cart, what was left of it, came tumbling into the yard, followed by many screaming men.
    104  The attackers had expected an unprepared enemy.  The first three to enter the yard, however, took barely three steps before arrows struck their chests, and they fell, dead.
    105  The women on the balcony killed five more and wounded seven others before their arrows were gone.  The spear-throwers too, found their marks, and safely reached the barricade before the enemy was on them.
    106  The attackers were at the barricade in moments, and they got another nasty surprise.  Suddenly, the household servants rushed out, calling to the others to get back.  The defenders leaped aside, as the cook and her helper flung the contents of her soup cauldron on the attackers, and the other servants emptied the pots they carried.  The Voice realized he had underestimated these old people.
    107  At least five of the enemy withdrew, their faces terribly scalded.  Others also backed off with lesser but just as painful burns.
    108  The defenders retook their positions, and the battle was joined in earnest.  For many minutes it was a melee of swords, spears, and shields.  At first the enemy had the advantage in spears, but after the defenders had slain a few of their spearmen, and commandeered their weapons, the odds were improved.
    109  The Voice sent three of the captured spears upstairs, the women might need them.  Some of the
attackers, seeing the stairs unguarded in the yard, thought the way was open to a quick victory.
    110  They rushed up the stairs and almost reached the top, when the stairs folded up under them. One man landed on his head in the soft ground of the flowerbed, and never rose from the spot. Others broke their legs and arms as they hit the stone walkway.  Some were only knocked senseless, but it kept them from the battle for many minutes.
    111  As the defenders fought, there came a loud crash, and some of the attackers backed away, stunned and bewildered.  Again, there came another crash, and more of the enemy withdrew. The Voice couldn't understand what was happening. Then, above him, he heard one of the children cry, "Our Lady!  Get back!  Be careful!"
    112  There was another thunderous crash, then The Voice remembered the five great stone flower pots along the edge of the balcony.  Somehow The Lady was knocking them over onto the enemy below.
    113  "Use your bows, you damned fools!" someone in the yard was crying. "Kill that daughter of a dog!"
    114  The Voice heard the hiss of arrows, but the barrage continued until the last pot was gone.  And, shooting arrows up into the balcony was a mistake.  The ladies there sent them back with a vengeance!  The Voice watched three of the bowmen fall in rapid succession.  After that, they saved their arrows!
    115  "Come on, you fools!" somebody shouted.  "There's only a few of them!  Push through!  Climb that wall!  Take the balcony!  You out-number them, you fools!  Fight!"

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