Terrible Swift Sword Read Online Free PDF Page B

curse," a voice from behind Tayang snarled.
    Jubadi looked at the shaman, waiting for Tayang to discipline one who had not been invited to speak, but the Qar Qarth did nothing. Jubadi bristled at the insult.
    "The curse has struck several," Tamuka interjected. "Their hair fell away, they vomited blood and died. But others have not been stricken, a sign that not all the ancestors are angered, that they are pleased that we use these things to break our common enemy."
    Jubadi stared at the shaman, who made the gesture to ward away evil as he backed into the shadows.
    "With these machines we may fly over the Rus, even to the Roum lands, to spy, to drop weapons that explode. Even now I make more of them and will not stop, for it is the one thing the Yankees have not forged."
    "Yet . . ." Tamuka whispered softly, his voice not heard.
    "The curse will be on you, not I," Tayang said, though it was obvious he was curious to see this strange wonder.
    The shadows in the tent were growing darker, the red light streaming in from the western flap fading away. A high piercing call rose up from outside the yurt, the cry of the watchers, announcing the setting of the sun. All fell silent, the three Qar Qarths rising from their thrones to face west, the Qarths about their feet dropping to their knees in the same direction.
    "O light of the world!" the watchers cried. "Journey now into the night lands of the everlasting sky. Bring unto our sires, and our sires' sires, the words of our praise. Shine thy face upon the land of the dead, and then return in thy glory yet again."
    The last thin shaft of light shimmered on the horizon, spreading out into a broad band. There was a momentary flash of green and all cried aloud with joy, for it was a good sign, a portent of favor to all who saw it.
    The green flash faded away, the voices of the three umens arrayed on the hills rising up in exaltation at the omen.
    The three Qar Qarths turned away as the western flap was closed, and lit torches were brought into the yurt, pushing back the gloom. The circular brazier near the center, where Tamuka stood, was piled highwith sweet-scented wood which filled the tent with its smoky perfume. Tamuka looked at it with pleasure. Those who rode the central steppes would go at times for months without seeing a wood fire, cooking with knotted grass, dried dung, or the branches of a thorny bush rich with an oil that caused an acrid, smoky flame.
    Tayang, nodding with satisfaction as if he had somehow caused the omen, sat back down and looked over at Jubadi.
    "You want peace, then?"
    Jubadi nodded.
    "You want me to give you peace, so you can take these cattle weapons, master them, and one day turn them against us."
    Muzta could see the look of exasperation on Tamuka's face.
    "Thinking like that will be the end of us all!" he shouted angrily. "It is the cattle who are the enemy. First it was the Rus, now the Roum, beyond them all the cattle throughout the world will hear of what has happened. Already the vermin who crawl before us, the wanderers, have spread the word of the rebellion a full season beyond our furthest outriders.
    "There is only one answer left. Give the Merki peace, that they may turn their full strength against those led by the Yankees. If that is allowed, we shall slay them."
    He hesitated for a moment, as if knowing the reaction to what he would say next.
    "Then kill every last cattle upon this world. Cleanse ourselves of them. Only then can we return to what we were."
    "Kill our own cattle!" Tayang roared, caught somewhere between rage and incredulous disbelief. "And who will feed us?"
    "We will feed ourselves, as our grandsires did."
    Tayang shook his head.
    "And dig in the dirt! You are mad."
    Muzta could see the looks of agreement on the faces of Tayang's followers.
    "Shield-bearer, you no longer speak what I wish," Jubadi said quietly. "All I ask is peace to bring the Yankees to their knees, to make them again cattle or to slay them, nothing