Belphebe surveyed it critically and whispered behind her hand to Shea, «It could be taken with firearrows.»
«I don’t think they have many archers or very good ones,» he whispered back. «Maybe you can show them something.»
The gate was pushed open creakingly by more bearded warriors, who shouted: «Good-day to you, Cucuc! Good luck toUlster ’s hound!»
The gate was wide enough to admit the chariot, scythe-blades and all. As the vehicle rumbled through the opening, Shea glimpsed houses of various shapes and sizes, some of them evidently stables and barns. The biggest of all was the hall in the middle, whose heavily thatched roof came down almost to the ground at the sides.
Laeg pulled up. Cuchulainn jumped down, waved his hand, and cried, «Muirthemne welcomes you, Americans!» All the others applauded as though he had said something particularly brilliant. He turned to speak to a fat man, rather better dressed than the rest, when another man came out of the main hall and walked rapidly toward them. The newcomer was a thin man of medium height, elderly but vigorous, slightly bent and carrying a stick, on which he leaned now and again. He had a long white beard, and a purple robe covered him from neck to ankle.
«The best of the day to you, Cathbadh,» said Cuchulainn. «This is surely a happy hour that brings you here, but where is my darling Emer?»
«Emer has gone to Emain Macha,» said Cathbadh. «Conchobar summoned her.»
«Ara!» shouted Cuchulainn. «Is it a serf that I am, that the King can send for my wife every time he takes it into the head of him? He is.»
«It is not that at all, at all,» said Cathbadh. «He summons you, too, and for that he sent me instead of Levarcham, for he knows you might not heed her word if you took it into that willful head of yours to disobey, whereas it ismyself can put a geas on you to go.»
«And why does himself want us at Emain Macha?»