"We fought a rear-guard fight, all the way. I fell here. I don't know
what happened to the others. They went on--"
* * * * *
The giant Morlon stiffened suddenly, muscles ridging over legs and
arms. His eyes rolled backwards.
Thor put him down on the sandy shore, gently.
He went on, along the path made clear by fallen bodies, by dropped
weapons. Here was havoc wrought on man and android by sharp steel, by
the honed edge of war-arrows and spears. Thor saw that there lay more
androids than men.
Toward evening he heard them. Hoarse war-cries throbbed in the air. He
crawled up over a lip of rock.
Before him lay the settlement, a low-walled city of kiosks and towers,
their dun clay surfaces ornamented with ochre and vermilion. On its
broad walls were archers and spearmen, patrolling during a lull in the
battle. The low tents of the androids penned in the city, ringing it
with pointed pennon-poles.
Thor gathered himself. He lifted his axe, swung it loosely to accustom
his hand and arm to its feel. There was no way leading between those
robot-tents, but Thor knew there was an invisible path leading to the
settlement walls, a road he had to cleave with axe and feet.
He stood up, grim and gaunt against the bright sky.
Standing, he could see beyond the lip of rock, away to his right.
Androids were tied to chains there, pulling. They were dragging great
wagons filled with huge urns. Aava-in-the-urn! He was coming, to blast
the walls with his titanic power!
Thor stifled a sob of anger and leaped forward. He ran as runs the
deer, barely touching the passing ground with his feet, but flying
swiftly. His axe was steady in his hand.
This was his one chance, when they were bringing Aava to the city.
The androids would be occupied with their master. They would not be
prepared for anyone trying to get _in_ the city.
If anyone noticed him, they paid him no heed. He was almost under the
walls when three androids sprang from the shelter of a tent to meet him
with naked swords.
Thor never stopped his rush. The axe lifted and swung, went back and
swung up again. One android remained standing, coming in swiftly,
throwing himself in a desperate lunge.
Thor sidestepped, pecked with the point of the axe right into the
middle of the forehead. There was a sharp scream, and then the
ponderous gates were opening before him. Thor dove through as spears
whistled over his head.
Yorg grinned, slapping Thor on naked shoulder. "We thought you dead.
Gordon and Kor Tan will be glad to see you."
"And Karola?"