The Poisoned Lands by John Maddox Roberts

Author:John Maddox Roberts [Roberts, John Maddox]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780812506310
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1992-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

somewhere in the city. Then you can mount an attack through the tunnel and into the city. That I must warn you is a very chancy prospect. It is best done when you have multiple tunnels. Now that we are at the walls they may hear us. Each day risks discovery and counteraction."

Gasam did not like the idea of sending his men into such a place. To attack on such a narrow front against an unknown resistance was not his style of warfare.

"What are my alternatives?"

"From here, we can dig deeper, beneath the corner of the wall. It will be hard digging down there, but in a few days I can hollow a space sufficient to bring the comer down. As we dig, we support the angle with heavy timbers to keep it from collapsing prematurely. When the excavation is sufficiently large, we fill it with oil-soaked brush. We fire the brush and it burns the timbers, weakening the stone as it does. The timbers collapse and the angle of the wall comes crashing down, creating a breach."

"A breach large enough to force our way into the city?"

The Nevan shrugged. "If your men fight hard enough."

"Will a fire bum so far underground?" Gasam wanted to know.

"I plan to cut a series of chimney vents from the fire chamber to the surface.

As the heat escapes through these, air will be sucked in through the tunnel.

It will get very hot, hot enough to crack stone."

THE POISONED LANDS

159

"Very well," Gasam said. "Commence digging your fire chamber immediately."

"As my king commands."

Gasam pondered a moment. "You mentioned counteraction. What measures might they take?''

"If they locate our mine by sound, they may dig a countermine."

"Then men could come storming through at any moment?" he asked, his fingers flexing on his spear. The thought was not unpleasant. A good fight would be better than the brooding horror of his surroundings.

"It could happen. However, if I were Mana's commander of engineers, I would drive a tunnel from the river which flows through the city straight into this one. We are well below the river level here. The water would come through with great force."

Gasam thought of a column of water blasting into the tunnel and the sweat sprang out on his brow. His bowels quaked within him. It was a uniquely unpleasant sensation, for he had seldom experienced physical fear. He forced his voice to be steady when he spoke.

"Is this likely?"

"I would hear them if they were close," the sapper assured him. "When we dig the fire chamber I will drive metal rods far into the ground beneath the city.

By putting an ear to these I will know if they are driving a countermine anywhere close."

"Excellent. You have your orders, Nevan. Get to work." Gasam whirled on his heel and his followers made him a path through their midst. He led them out, forcing himself to keep a stately pace, although he wanted badly to run. He vowed to make die people in the city pay a terrible price for making him feel fear.

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