04 Sir Thursday by Nix Garth

Author:Nix, Garth [Nix, Garth]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: &WORKING
Published: 2010-04-10T21:24:01+00:00

"This will be very simple," said the colonel in a quiet but carrying voice.

"First rank, if you would be so good as to lock your shields, set your pow er-spears, and draw swords. Second rank, ready your power-spears to throw. On the command 'throw,' you will throw and retire to the rear. As the secon d rank retires, third rank will march forward, and on the command 'throw,' and then retire as fourth rank marches forward and throws on command. As ea ch rank reaches the rear, it will turn to face front again and draw swords.

Listen for your sergeants' and corporals' commands and all will be well."

"Yes, sir!" bellowed Helve, the kind of "yes, sir" that drew everybody else to empty their lungs yelling, "Yes, sir!" as well.

"I feel a bit small," muttered Fred as he locked his shield with Ray's and the Denizen to his right, and set the butt of his power-spear in the ground.

"So do I," said Ray. They were both at least a foot shorter than the Denizen s to either side of them, and even when they held their shields high, the li ne suddenly dipped when it came to them.

They could hear the beat of the enemy's footsteps vibrating up through the ground now, and their snarls and even the crackle of their weapons, all too

like the sound of lightning-charged tulwars, the favored weapon of the Hor de.

"You two Piper's children, retire at once to the fourth rank!" snapped someo ne in front of them.

Ray automatically obeyed the voice of command, unlocking his shield and tur ning on the spot to march back, Fred at his side. Behind him the line shuff led together and in front of him, Denizens stood aside.

They were just about to go through the third rank when the enemy all screa med at once, and the pounding of their feet got much louder and faster, wi th the drums suddenly booming twice as fast and horns blaring as well. At the same time, Helve and some other sergeants were shouting, "Second rank!

Throw!" though even their legendary voices were almost lost in the din.

Ray knew the enemy had charged, and two seconds later, he almost felt the shock wave of sound and movement as the Nithlings' front rank crashed into

the locked shields of his comrades and the air was filled with screams an d cries and curses, the hiss of superheated spears and the ratcheting scre ech of savage-swords meeting Nithling armor.

"Third rank, throw! Fourth rank, advance!"

Ray had only just reached the fourth rank. He swiveled around as the whole line advanced, and he and Fred wedged themselves in, raising their power-sp ears as they did so.

As he saw as well as heard the indescribable pandemonium, with the Nithlin g and the Denizen front ranks intermixed in violent battle, Ray Green was totally in the present. There was no part of his mind trying to remember a nything of his past, but as his body obeyed without thought, the

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