They did answer her. Their shouts of applause came up—enthusiastic shouts of the women in which the cheering voices of the men were mingled.
And over it all came Nona’s cry: “I knew you would say that!”
My wonderful Nona! She was dominating them. Her glorious arms—smooth as pink marble—went out to them appealingly.
“We are but women, frail of body. But the spirit of battle is strong within us.”
Then she called upon all the women who were young and strong like herself—bade them come now to the palace roof-top.
“Come!” she cried. “Let us show our men what sort of women are theirs. Come now, and Nona—the Stranger’s woman—will command you in the battle!”
They came. From out of the crowd they swam upward—the fairest, most beautiful of the Marinoid girls—and settled upon the palace roof. Two hundred of them perhaps. It was inspiring. It could not help but be—and my Nona knew it and had planned it thus. The men, seeing them gather, cheered loudly and called upon me to lead them to protect their women.
It saved the situation for the King and me. Nona swam upward.
“My man Nemo will command you men,” she shouted. “And I will lead the women.”
She gazed down at me. “We women will wait for your orders, my Nemo.”