When the procession had entered the village itself and was within the short commercial strip, there would be an explosion back of them. Grenades, perhaps some shooting. If Wolf's prediction were accurate, this would divert the attention of at least the major portion of guards for long enough.
Long enough for the five men in the crowd to do what they had to do—
"This must be timed perfectly," he told the man who was to head the diversionary squad.
"I understand that."
"Too soon or too late, either will destroy us. It will take us too long to reach the Administrator. He must be exactly opposite the tailor's shop. It must be done right."
"It will be done right."
"If it is not, all the sacrifices are for nothing, you understand that? The consequences will be as bad, or worse, for the village, and we will have accomplished nothing. If the Administrator is dead, there will be time for most of the villagers to escape into the hills before the Federation can take action against them."
The man left, after Wolf had provided him with the weapons his group would need from his cache on the nearby hillside.
The dependable five were instructed in their parts, and then there was nothing to do but wait.
The next morning dawned clear. The air was cool, a slight breeze ruffled the fields around the village. As the sun rose higher in the sky, it glinted sharply from the towers of Thanlar.