ed thunderously in the confined
space, deafening all, and terrifying the Tulans. Bright red colored the
robes the Khan wore, colored them without beauty. Bright red splattered
the floor.

Leonid Plekhanov stared at his second in command, wet his thick lips.
"Joe," he sputtered. "I hadn't ... I didn't expect you to be so ...
hasty."

Joe Chessman growled, "We've got to let them know where we stand, right
now, or they'll never hold still for us. Cover the doors, Watson,
Roberts." He motioned to the others with his head. "Cogswell, Hawkins,
Stevens, get to those windows and watch."

Taller was a crumbled heap on the floor. The other Texcocans stared at
his body in shocked horror.

All expect Reif.

Reif bent down over his father's body for a moment, and then looked up,
his lips white, at Plekhanov. "He is dead."

Leonid Plekhanov collected himself. "Yes."

Reif's cold face was expressionless. He looked at Joe Chessman who stood
stolidly to one side, gun still in hand.

Reif said, "You can supply such weapons to my armies?"

Plekhanov said, "That is our intention, in time."

Reif came erect. "Subject to the approval of the clan leaders, I am now
Khan. Tell me more of this State of which you have spoken."

IV.

The sergeant stopped the small company about a quarter of a mile from
the city of Bari. His detachment numbered only ten but they were well
armed with short swords and blunderbusses and wore mail and steel
helmets. On the face of it, they would have been a match for ten times
this number of merchants.

It was hardly noon but the sergeant had obviously already been at his
wine flask. He leered at them. "And where do you think you go?"

The merchant who led the rest was a thin little man but he was richly
robed and astride a heavy black mare. He said, "To Bari, soldier." He
drew a paper from a pouch. "I hold this permission from Baron Mannerheim
to pass through his lands with my people and chattels."

The leer turned mercenary. "Unfortunately, city man, I can't read. What
do you carry on the mules?"

"Personal property, which, I repeat, I have permission to transport
over Baron Mannerheim's lands free from harassment from his followers."
He added, in irritation, "The baron is a friend of mine, fond of the
gifts I give him."

One of the soldiers grunted his skepticism, checked the flint on the
lock of his piece, then looked at the sergeant suggestively.

The sergeant said, "As you say, mer