It was ugly, really, but when I saw again the hard, hot sky which is that blue because of its depth, and smelt the unattractive, real, big bird smell of the bird the General had mounted, I knew I wanted to live. The—potency—of this world we have been born into clamours more in our veins than our blood does, though sometimes I have thought it is our blood. But this has nothing to do with courage, though a lot to do with determination. Zerd dismissed the scientists on to the various places where they’d presently be needed. Lara went with one, not looking at us. “Here, up,” Zerd said.

I mounted reasonably well and swiftly without touching his proffered hand.

When up behind him I had to hold on in order not to be dashed into the crowd because of the bird’s gait However, I crooked into his belt only one finger, though it soon ached.

“We’re going to the camp where you’ll be guarded for the short time till your execution,” he said conversationally.

He chuckled, really as if helluva amused, and with the reins in one hand he half-turned back to me and without urgency removed from round his neck the black kerchief worn in hot weather and in whose folds had been caught most of his sweat. This he now stuffed into my mouth before I realized what was intended. Then he took both my hands in his and turned to the front again so that my arms were round his waist.

“In case you decide to shout the dread secret out to these ladies and gentlemen, though it’s doubtful that even the nearness of death could make you feel such kindness for the Southerners, and it’s also doubtful that any of them’d hear over their own vociferation,” he explained. “But then, it really is quite an important formula.”

I tried to spit the pungent cloth out of my mouth, but he had tucked it in with the dexterous hand probably of experience. I was exposed to full view and as I was again dressed as myself I felt remarkably embarrassed. I kept my eyes lowered, afraid of meeting some recognizable gaze.

The way he had pulled my arms meant that I was stretched close against him. Because of the heat, the scarlet cloak had been looped to one side and I felt through his black shirt the