Up ahead lay the castle—unreachable, through some trick of the alien's. Very well. Harrell's brows drew together in concentration for a moment; his mind planned a strategy—and formed men to carry it out.
There were six of him, suddenly.
Six identical Harrells—identical in size, shape, form, purpose. They would attack the Dimellian simultaneously. Or, at least, five of them would, creating a diversionary action while the sixth—Harrell-original—made a frontal assault on the castle.
Harrell-original faced his five duplicates and briefly instructed each in his job. They were like puppets.
"Harrell-one, you're to attack in conjunction with Harrell-two, on the mental level. Take turns heaving mental bolts at the alien. While one of you is recharging, the other is to unload. That won't give him time to get any sort of defense organized and certainly no counter-attack.
"Harrell-three and Harrell-four, you're to attack physically, one armed with sword and one with blaster, from opposite sides at once. That ought to keep him busy, while he's fighting off the rest of you.
"Harrell-five, your job is to serve as front runner—to find the Dimellian and engage him in conversation while the other four are getting ready to attack. Make him angry; get him concerned about what you're saying. The instant his defenses drop the other four of you jump in. All of you got that?"
They nodded in unison.
"Good. Meanwhile I'll make an assault on the castle and maybe I can get through with you five running interference for me."