Page 10 (1/2)
"I shouldn't wander about too much," said the owner "They say a civilian let the Ephebians in - not that I've got anything against the Ephebians, a fine body of ed past "A stranger, they say That's cheating, using civilians There's people out looking for hi motion with his hand
Rincewind stared at the hand as though hypnotised
Eric opened his mouth Eric screeched and clutched at his shins
"Have they got a description?" Rincewind said
"Don't think so"
"Well best of luck to them," said Rincewind, rather more cheerfully
"What's up with the lad?"
"Craone back behind his counter Eric hissed, "You didn't have to kick ht It was an entirely voluntary act on my part"
A heavy hand dropped on to Rincewind`s shoulder He looked around and up into the face of an Ephebian centurion A soldier beside hie I'd bet a year's salt"
"Who'd of thought it?" said the sergeant He gave Rincewind an evil grin "Up we come, chummy The chief would like a ith you"
Some talk of Alexander and soreat nahout the history of the s about every cauliflower-eared sword-swinger, at least in their vicinity, on the basis that it was a lot safer that way It's funny how the people have always respected the kind of coies like "I want fifty thousand of you chappies to rush at the enes like "Why don't we build a dareat wooden horse and then nip in at the back date while they're all round the thing waiting for us to come out" are considered only one step above common oiks and not the kind of person you'd lend money to
This is because most of the first type of comists
Rinceas dragged before the Ephebian leaders, who had set up a command post in the city'sof the central citadel, which looinous hill They were not too close, however, because the defenders were dropping rocks
They were discussing strategy when Rincewind arrived The consensus seee nuht survive the rocks to take the citadel This is essentially the basis of all
Several of the lanced up when Rincewind and Eric approached, gave the, and turned away again The only person who seemed to be pleased to see them
-didn't look like a soldier at all He had the armour, which was tarnished, and he had the helh its plume had been used as a paintbrush, but he was skinny and had all the uely faht it looked quite handsome
"Pleased to see them" was only a coed their existence
He was lounging in a chair and feeding the Luggage with sandwiches
"Oh, hallo," he said gloo how much information can be crammed in to a couple of words To achieve the saht, I' to the laundry rota, these idiots are about as much help as a rubber hammer, I never wanted to be here anyway and, on top of all this there's you Hallo, you
He indicated the Luggage, which opened its lid expectantly
"This yours?" he said
"Sort of," said Rincewind guardedly "I can't afford to pay for anything it's done, , isn't it?" said the soldier "We found it herding fifty Tsorteans into a corner Why was it doing that, do you think?"
Rincewind thought quickly "It has this a lare at a sly, evil-teenerally reprehensible fa visitors, has rolled over on its scabby back and played as Lovable Puppy to impress the bailiffs
"Yes?" said the ic, is it?"
"Yes" "So in the wood, is it?" "Yes" "Good job we didn't build the sodding horse out of it, then" "Yes" "Got into it by ht so" He threw another sandwich at the Luggage "Where you from?" Rincewind decided to come clean "The future," he said This didn't have the expected
effect The man just nodded "Oh," he said, and then he said, "Did in?" "Yes" "Oh I suppose you can't remember the results of any horse races?" said the ht you probably wouldn't why did you open the gate for us?" It occurred to Rincewind that saying it was because he had always been a firm admirer
of the Ephebian political position would not, strangely enough, be the right thing to do He decided to try the truth again It was a novel approach and worth experi for a way out," he said
"To run away"
"Yes"
"Good , in the circu at the other captains clustered around their table and deep in argument
"You, lad," he said "Want to be a soldier when you grow up?"