Wagner and Bernibus broke the Canitaur’s ranks and drew near to us in the center, as did the King from the Zard’s. They reached us in silence, and for a long moment there was no talking, for all present knew that something grave was about to happen, something that would decide the fate of the men of this age, whether they would pass or fail the test. Bernibus looked at me with entreating eyes, showing his sorrow at my recapture and asking for forgiveness, but I had none to give him, for he had done no wrong to need it. He had no power among the Canitaurs, but was only a titled commoner, more like Wagner’s groom than counsel.
I noticed that the Canitaurs were not wearing their anti-electron suits, which was strange, for they had brought a few hundred atomic anionizers, though I didn’t question them about it, for the answer was evident enough when I had given it some thought: the Zards had no such suits, and were afraid that the Canitaurs would destroy them and Munams at the same time, for while they were allies against foreigners, they still did not trust each other. I still wore my suit given me for the raid on Nunami, though I had forgotten about it due to its comfort. That made me the only person on the earth still wearing one, the only one safe from the anionizers.
It was an overcast morning, and the air was damp with a cold, wet wind that blew in forlornly. The ocean’s steady swoosh added to the scene, making it as depressing as the night before was joyous, and in the bluish half light all was colorless and hopeless. At length the King spoke, saying, “My dear Jehu, I am very disappointed in you. Not only did you flee from us irresponsibly, but you destroyed the Temple of Time and the altar to Temis. Without the White Eagle, the prophecy says that there is no hope for humanity.”
Wagner added, “And now the only way left to bring about the completion of the world once more is to sacrifice you using the old methods.” This he said with evident pleasure, no longer feigning to be my friend.
Here Bernibus entered the dialog, throwing away his timidness with one quick motion and saying to Wagner, “You scoundrel! You said that we came to retrieve Jehu, not to sacrifice him. How is it that you lied to me in such a manner?”
“You fool,” Wagner said, “If I had had my way, you would have been dead long ago. You have no authority here, so begone.”
Bernibus grew angrier, a terrifying state for a Canitaur to be in, and he was a strong and powerful one at that, though his meek nature had hidden it before. “You would never dare to kill me in the open, you coward, the council would banish you,” he said.
Here the King joined in once more, laughing, “He wouldn’t, no, but I would. Do you really think that we found your outpost on our own, oh Bernibus the ‘deputy kibitzer’? You know that we have no tracking ability, and least of all in your own territory.”
Bernibus grew more enraged, and the King was spurred on by it.
“Oh yes, you know what I speak of. Your brother-in-law told us where you and your wife were living, and not only that, for he also told us when you would be there.”