once as they sighted this pursuit,
set out after the second mother disk.

"I guess we're going to miss the fighting," I said to Holaf.

"We can get into it when the time is right. We've got to move at once.
The Jivros know our location now. Come on!"

Holaf strode back into the cavern that had been the Zerv's hideout for
so long. I followed, stopping curiously to examine the apparatus which
the Croen had abandoned on the advent of the prince. It was a kind of
still, bubbling now with a wick lamp under the red fluid, and nearly a
gallon of the end product had collected in a big jar.

"What was this distillation all about?" I asked Holaf.

"It was a medicine she was making for the Shinro. She said that an
injection into their blood would increase their perceptions to a human
range of intelligence, and that then we could use their resulting rage
against their mutilators. It is only a temporary effect. It will wear
off in a day, leave them again to the stupidity the Jivros gave them.
Now, she's gone, I don't even know the dosage. It is useless, the prince
took her from us."

"We can use it, if it is complete. I have the needle I used to revive
the Croen. Bring the stuff; we'll try it."

"We could circle the army, get into the city...." said Holaf, his eyes
glittering on mine.

"Let's go," I cried, getting his idea.

* * *

We were near a hundred and fifty young Zerv fighters, and perhaps as
many women and old men and children. We wound through the passages of
the tunnels in the mountain, came out on the far side from the valley.
Along the mountainside we traveled, and I realized we were at the mercy
of any force we met, being too few and too hampered with baggage and the
helpless members of the Zerv families.

But Holaf knew what to do. He pointed out a trail toward the wilderness
to the thin little column, told them where to take cover and await his
return. Then with myself and a dozen of his best warriors, he turned his
face again toward the Jivro stronghold.

We circled the valley, marching hard, crossing the upper narrow end.
Coming toward the city, twilight was closing down, and we made the last
few miles in complete darkness.

Near the walls, Holaf chopped a thirty-foot sapling, which we carried to
the wall. A young Zerv swarmed up the pole, let down a rope to help the
ascent of the others. I climbed the rough pole after him. I hadn't the
athletic ability of these Zervs who seemed t