The Crystal Warriors (26 page)

Ikawa came in just above Mark and his men. "The demons are moving in," he shouted.

"Another minute!"

"Captain, over here!" Walker was on the ground pulling back a smoldering timber, digging furiously.

An arm was sticking out, covered with a light blue tunic trimmed with gold: Allic.

"It's him, we've got him!" Walker called.

"Mark, we've got to get out of here!" Ikawa shouted.

"Pina's under him," Jose said. Mark grabbed Allic's arm and pulled him out.

Mark had seen wounded men before, both on Earth and here on Haven, but still he wasn't prepared. The right side of Allic's face was crushed, teeth and bone showing through.

His eye, oh Jesus, Allic's eye. Mark turned away and retched.

"I've got Pina out," Mark heard Jose call, as if from a great distance.

"Mark, now! With him or not!" barked Ikawa.

A series of bolts flashed overhead.

Mark turned back, struggling for control. "Jose, Welsh, take Pina. Walker, help me. The rest of you up for support."

Mark looked again at Allic. He snatched a piece of charred black cloth that lay on the ground, and wrapped it around Allic's face, then grabbed him around the shoulders, while Walker took his feet. Struggling under their burden, with effort they lifted and flew back for the city, skimming the ground.

Allic dangled beneath Mark, while Walker flew directly below, supporting the lower half of Allic's body. Mark could feel the warm blood trickling over his hands and soaking through his shirt, where Allic's head rested against his chest.

Mark felt a slight stir. "He's alive!"

"You'll be dead if they cut us off while you're carrying him," Younger rejoined, pointing towards the swarming demons.

"I'm not letting go," Mark snarled. "Just keep them off."

The demons, seeing the burden that the party was carrying, roared their challenge and charged.

The Japanese pulled ahead, forming a tight wedge. A single volley slashed out. Seconds passed, another volley was fired, and then another, as if they were again infantrymen, lined up and firing on command.

The center of the demon pack broke under the blasts. On either side, and directly above, the remaining Americans positioned themselves, acting as top and side gunners, striking anything that started to close on the flanks.

The fight boiled over, slashing into the formation. Mark felt something slam into his back. Smithie pointed almost straight at Mark and fired a blast, the weight above him let go, and he heard the terrible shriek as the demon fell away.

It was still a quarter of a mile to the outer wall, and another half a mile to the citadel.

Bolts shot through the melee.

Oh Christ,
Mark cursed silently.
Their sorcerers are coming in.

The demons on the left flank broke off, turning back to the rear.

"A sortie," Ikawa shouted.

A dozen sorcerers led by Valdez were coming in low over the water, dodging blasts from the crystals in the outer walls, held by the enemy.

"To them," Ikawa cried.

The formation turned and cut out over the river. Valdez and his companions bypassed the formation to either side, disrupting the demons who were still trying to close.

Mark and Walker pushed straight ahead.

"Take the lead," Ikawa shouted. "We'll cover the retreat."

The Japanese pulled up in a rough attempt at an Immelmann turn. Even through his fear and exhaustion Mark felt that at last they had finally started to learn how to fight and fly like airmen.

The wall loomed closer.

Mark had a moment of panic when he saw two heavy crystals come to bear on him―and fire.

The bolts swept to either side. One of the sorcerers with Valdez disappeared in a blinding flash.

The wall was closer, closer, finally dropping away.

They were in the city, cutting over towards the western half of the town, away from the enemy. Flying low over the rooftops, they ran parallel to the river.

The extent of damage was stunning. Riverside warehouses crackled and roared. Villas had become armed fortresses under siege from a battery of Sarnak's heavy crystals on the opposite waterfront.

They passed directly over a blazing palace whose waterfront side was aswarm with Sarnak's soldiers. Companies of militia were rushing down narrow side streets, valiantly attempting to contain the rupture in their defensive line.

Mark heard a ripple of explosions and looked over his shoulder to see his escort firing a volley into the attackers as they passed over.

Finally they reached the one bridge still intact that linked the two halves of the city. Turning, they skimmed down the length of the structure, using its high side walls as protection from enemy shots fired from the eastern bank.

Straining with the last of their energy, Mark and Walker pulled up, cleared the outer wall of the citadel, and landed roughly in Allic's private courtyard.

Within seconds Jose and Welsh landed beside them. Mark looked over at them and for the first time realized that Pina's left arm was gone, his left side scorched to the bone.

"He's alive too," Welsh gasped, and collapsed next to the wounded sorcerer.

A shadow passed over them and they looked up to see the covering formation wing over. Most of the sorcerers flew back to the beleaguered citadel tower, but Valdez and Ikawa landed by Allic's side.

"Is he alive?" Valdez asked fearfully.

Mark nodded. Bracing himself, he pulled back the bandage that had covered Allic's face.

"Without his strength we can't hold," Valdez said numbly. "I had hoped that through his power we could yet turn the tide."

"What are you saying?" Ikawa barked.

"That it's over." Valdez was grim.

"Like hell it is," Ikawa replied. "It's not in my code to surrender."

Ikawa was staring straight at Mark, and for a second he thought that this was somehow a reprimand for the surrender back in China. But then he realized that Ikawa was merely looking to him for support.

"With what do you plan to hold?" Valdez asked. "I tell you, it's senseless to continue. I was holding out solely on the hope that Allic would be able to get us out of this. But not now. Once we can move Allic I will have him sent to Asmara. Then I plan to surrender this city. Perhaps we can still find quarter from Sarnak."

"M
y lady Storm."

Storm came slowly out of her dazed slumber. Her bed swayed beneath her and she felt as if she were on a boat at sea, until she realized that she was riding inside a supply wagon. A murmur came from the outside, the all-too-familiar sound of an army on the march. Macha was leaning over her.

"Then we've lost, and I'm your prisoner," she whispered, sitting up. She felt her wrists and waist. Her crystals were still there.

"No, you're not a prisoner," Macha said ruefully. "In fact, at the moment we're in alliance."

"In alliance? Not before the sun freezes to ice."

Macha quickly explained all that had transpired since the moment the two had struck each other down, and Allic had returned to Landra.

"I still have a demon of a headache from you," he finished. "I thought for a moment that you had in fact defeated me."

"Next time I will," Storm grumbled. "And now we're supposed to be allies?"

"Storm, if you don't believe me, I have one of Allic's aides waiting outside this wagon."

She stared at him. There was no lie in his heart, she quickly realized.

"Very well," she said. With a groan she stretched, probing within herself to sense how much of the damage had been healed, how strong the Essence was within her. She realized there was still not enough to fly and to fight, let alone create another full thunderstorm.

Now that had been a masterful creation, a real sky smasher, and she smiled with pride. Rarely had she conjured a storm of such power out of still air. Given another few minutes, why, she might even have whipped up a small tornado to heighten the effect.

"Had you worried, didn't I?"

"Let's just say that I was somewhat impressed."

They fell silent. It had not been their first confrontation, but there was little animosity, for among their class a lasting grudge usually resulted in mutual destruction. They had been enemies before, and might be again, but political concerns had shifted, and with the polish of master diplomats, they could move with the tide.

"So it was Sarnak after all," Storm reflected.

Macha nodded, his expression set. She could sense his embarrassment over being made to look the fool. All politics aside, this was one grudge that would not be ignored, for Macha, like Allic, loved the people of his realm, and viewed it as his first responsibility to rule fairly and to protect them. Thousands had died through Sarnak's maneuver. Macha would demand payment in full.

Macha looked away for a moment, and she could sense that he had unpleasant news.

"It's Allic?" she said quietly.

His face was a mask.

"Or is it Mark?" she cried.

"It might be both," Macha replied. "The interference on our communications cleared a short while ago. Allic has been injured."

"He's alive, then?"

"I don't know. The report was garbled, and we didn't get a confirmation before the jamming started again. Allic is seriously hurt, he's been badly maimed. In short, he might die."

She absorbed this, trying to hide her emotion. She needed all her strength concentrated on healing if she was to be of any help. She could spare only a moment indulging in fear for her brother.

"Mark?"

"No word on him directly. Valdez said that the city will fall. He's planning to evacuate once Allic can be moved, but fears they will not be able to break out."

Landia falling to Sarnak. It was impossible. It had to be impossible.

"Is there a chance the communication could have been false?"

"Allic's assistant was with me when it came in. He spoke to Valdez, and their battle code was confirmed. It's true."

"Then we must fly to him at once!" Storm said, struggling to rise.

"And do what when you get there, wobble around in the air so Sarnak's men can pick you off?"

"Then you should go. You have at least thirty sorcerers with you right now."

"Not even for my brother would I do that," Macha said coldly. "My army fought a running battle for the last ten days. I've lost eighteen sorcerers already, and half the survivors are injured. I need my air cover over my own people."

"Against what?" Storm cried. "Sarnak has thrown everything against my brother. He doesn't have anything left to send against you. Your army and Allic's ground forces here could force march through the night and be athwart Sarnak's line by late tomorrow."

"As I have already planned. And when both our armies arrive, our sorcerers will be over them for protection, as good battle sense dictates. I will not strip my air protection from my army."

"Then if you're too much of a coward to go to his aide before it's too late, I'll go north myself with the sorcerers Allic left here!"

"I wouldn't advise that."

"And why not?"

"The Subata have gone over to Sarnak." Macha grimaced.

"What?"

"My lieutenant who commanded the Subata and his assistants had sold themselves to Sarnak before this campaign began. One of the Subata assistants deserted and came back last night to tell me."

"They'd reorganized their forces after they had finished their feeding. Even now the beasts trail us not an hour's march behind. If I pull off the air cover, they'll strike."

"Then attack them first."

"Useless. They would just scatter, and Zambara would know that I am aware of his betrayal. Besides, he and his assistants are in hiding. If I can't find them, we can't put the Subata out of action."

"Then send out patrols at once!" Storm snapped, her anger increasing with every negative response from Macha.

He extended his hands in a gesture of exasperation.

"There have been reports of Sarnak's sorcerers shadowing us, and at least one report of spies in the hills. If I send people out too far from the support of the main group, they could be cut off. If I send too large a party out, stripping our defenses here, Sarnak could hit us hard from above."

She sat on her cot feeling impotent. She wanted to scream at Macha, but knew that the burden of the decision had been hard on him, as well. Unlike her brother he was being coldly rational about this. He wanted revenge, to be sure, but he would not risk any more of his people without just cause, and the possible loss of Landra, or even of Allic, was not his ultimate concern. She knew too that she was not yet in any condition to lead the remaining sorcerers from Allic's forces. They were needed to protect this army. How often had she heard Jartan speak about the obligation of rule. But he had never taught her how to deal with the pain of ruling.

"I'll stay with you till we reach the city," she said in a resigned voice.

"You should rest," Macha said gently, and he withdrew from the wagon.

But sleep came hard, although she knew that to heal for tomorrow's fight she would have to sleep. All she could think of was her brother, and of Mark who was bound to him―a bond, she knew, that he would honor, even if it meant his death.

* * * *

"There is no sign of his body," Mokaoto reported.

"Then I must assume that he is alive," Sarnak replied. "That would match your report," and he looked at Kala.

"Remember, my lord, we only know a small part of their code. We do know the code word for Allic, and we believe his name was linked with statements concerning injury and escape from Landra."

"Are you sure Valdez was speaking?"

"That's been confirmed."

"If Allic is alive and they flee, the shame of his defeat and humiliation will kill him anyhow," Sarnak mused. "This sounds like the truth. Valdez is too loyal to Allic. He would put Allic's physical survival over all else, even if it meant a life of humiliation thereafter. The plan failed, but only in part."

But at least it had worked enough to put Allic permanently out of the fight, Sarnak thought. A berserk demigod like Allic could have turned the tide of battle. Now he was off the board.

Still, when you got right down to it, the war over Landra was only a game within a game. After all, Landra was merely a city. What Sarnak wanted was the prize hidden in the Crystal Mountains beyond. In a moment of insight Allic might have suspected, but now he was removed.

"Should we hold back the assault, then?" Mokaoto asked, disappointment in his voice.

"What for? If we do not press in, Valdez might think again. Besides, I want to destroy Landra. We must draw them here―and then we can crush them. Order the main assault to continue."

Smiling, Mokaoto bowed and withdrew.

"Damn it, that was close!"

A fine shower of dust sifted down from the ceiling and settled over the Americans.

Mark looked around at his men. They had been up on the citadel wall throughout the rest of the day after their arrival and long into the night, only to stand down for several hours until they were called back up for another eighteen hours of defense. But exhaustion had finally drained them completely, and Valdez agreed to send them down for rest, and their first hot food in days.

Most had instantly fallen asleep in spite of the bedlam, but Mark, burdened by worry, had not been able to doze off. Walker had sat by his side, and they now looked at each other for a moment, bracing for the next explosion.

"You know, Captain, I've been holding back on you guys..."

"How so?"

Walker reached into his pocket and produced a small package.

"I don't believe it," Mark said, laughing, "a pack of Camels!"

"Unopened, Captain. Been saving it for something special. Care for one?"

"Shit, yeah."

Walker pulled off the wrapper. Mark absently started to reach in a pocket for his Zippo lighter, then laughed. He didn't need the Zippo nowadays; he concentrated for a moment and the cigarettes were lit.

They both leaned back, drew deeply, and sighed.

"Preferred Lucky Strikes myself," Mark said.

"Yeah, Lucky Green's gone to war, you remember?"

Another explosion rocked the shelter.

"Here, Captain, take the pack, you look like you need it."

Mark looked at Walker.

"Go on, Mark. I always stuck half a dozen packs in my flight jacket before a mission back in China. Never knew where we'd land and figured they might come in handy with the locals."

Mark hesitated but Walker pressed the pack into his hand.

"Worried about this pull-out, aren't you?" Walker asked.

Unable to contain himself, Mark opened up. "It'll kill Allic, even if he survives. The healers are over in the next corridor trying to stablilize him and Pina enough so they can be flown out and taken north to refuge at Jartan's court. But goddamn it. Valdez is so intent on saving him that he's not even thinking about what will happen when they wake up. Landra will be gone."

He fell silent. Landra―this beautiful city, this fascinating place that had finally started to become his home, was coming down around them. And the people? All these wondrous, open people, given over to the sack.

His memory wandered, recalling the days spent strolling the city streets, talking with the merchants, sitting in the taverns. All of it would be gone, the city in ashes.

"We
can't
let it happen," Mark said, voice hard with conviction.

"There isn't anything more we can do, Cap'n. You, me, all of us, we're fought to exhaustion. Even the Japanese sleeping over there, they're plain used up."

Mark nodded wearily.

"Goddamn, I always did wonder what it was like on the ground for the bastards we were delivering the goods to, back in our war," Walker said. "Now I wish I didn't know."

"How's that?"

"Just, when we were back on the old
Dragon Fire.
Shit, Captain, you couldn't see it the way I could, bouncing around back there in the tail. Why, we'd drop them eggs, and you'd be up front, pulling us around for dear life through the flak belts. But me, old Jimmy Walker, I'd be riding high in the back, looking down from thirty thousand feet, watching them babies just slam into the Japs."

"Boom, there goes a factory, boom, trains looking like my kid brother's toys go flying up in the air, boom, there'd go a whole row of houses."

He fell silent and looked over at the Japanese.

"Now I know," he said softly.

As if in counterpoint, another explosion rocked the room and more dust filtered down. Walker sighed and took another pull on the cigarette.

"Buy a bond and build a bomb, remember that one?" Walker whispered, looking over to see if his captain had finally fallen asleep.

"Huh?"

"Oh, just buy a bond and build a bomb, remember the advertisements in
Life
? Right there alongside a picture of Dorothy Lamour or Rita Hayworth, bonds pasted all over their luscious big kazooms while they posed next to a ten ton blockbuster."

Mark suddenly came to his feet.

"Goddamn it, wake everybody up," Mark said. "Ikawa's people too."

"What the hell, Captain?"

"Just do it!"

"What's going on?"

Mark grinned at him.

"The hell with Valdez, Mr. Walker. We're taking over this fight right now."

* * * *

"But Valdez has given no orders regarding this," the old sorcerer roared.

"I don't give a damn if Jartan himself ordered you differently," Mark shouted. "Step back from those wall crystals right now, or so help me, my people will blast your ass right off this wall."

The sorcerer looked at the offworlders who surrounded him. He hesitated and looked over at the small communications crystal set in the mount next to the heavy weapon.

"Go ahead and try it," Ikawa said. "Though it will grieve me, I'll not hesitate to strike."

Without wasting any more time by arguing, Mark shouldered his way forward, pushing the sorcerer out of his path, and went up to the stand that held the wall crystal.

"Bring those slings over," he orderered, wrestling the crystal from its mount and dropping it onto a sling.

"Take the other two, as well," Mark shouted, and Shigeru stepped forward. With one arm he scooped the second crystal up, and turning, used his other arm to reach out and take the third.

"But we were ordered to keep up fire until the evacuation. How are we to stop them from breaking in?"