Khafre made a quick, impatient gesture. "We need more slaves! These
human cattle are frail. You drive them, and they die."
"The Kalds...."
"Are doing what they can. Two more chains have just come. But it's
still not enough to be safe! I've told the beasts to raid farther in,
even to the border cities if they have to."
"It won't help if the humans attack us before we're done."
Khafre laughed. There was nothing pleasant or remotely humorous about
it.
"_If_ they could track the Kalds this far, we could handle them easily.
After we're finished, of course, they'll be subjugated anyway."
The other nodded. Faintly uneasy, it said, "If we finish in time. If we
don't...."
"If we don't," said Khafre, "none of it matters, to them or us or the
Immortal Bas." Something that might have been a shudder passed over its
shining body. Then it threw back its head and laughed again, high and
clear.
"But we will finish it, Steud! We're unique in the universe, and
nothing can stop us. This means the end of boredom, of servitude and
imprisonment. With this world in our hands, nothing can stop us!"
Steud whispered, "Nothing!" Then they moved away, disappearing into the
seething clamor of the floor.