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Show still-knocked cold. It was an impressive spectacle-a force of close to a thousand armored Provincials routed in a matter of minutes by twenty-five Zetts on gold Grendels, a pack of JumbleDogs, and an even dozen kibitzing red DragonGeese. Lodyan reined her Grendel toward the cottages, landed it, and then jumped off, looking around fretfully. Then her head jerked sideways and she made for the equipment shed in a dead heat. Aaiiieeee! but, the door was locked shut! The little Zett began banging on it. Then she kicked. Then she screeched in frustration. Inside the shed, Brandon stared at the clamorous and rattling door with wide-open eyes, then scurried over to cower by Phrapp and Janni. "Open the door," rumbled Phrapp wearily. Janni looked at him in terror. "Nay. . .nay. . . , " she whispered. Phrapp shook his head from side to side. ' " T i s . . . . " He hesitated as though searching for words in a new language. " . . . ' t i s a. . .friend. . . . " He looked up, alert. "'Tis a friend!" He made to get up and winced. Janni nodded her head and got up herself, ran lightly to the door, and lifted the heavy bar. The door banged open, knocking Janni aside, and a small form sprinted toward Dr'Anya on the floor. "Aaiiieeee!" breathed the little Zett. She threw herself down on the floor by Dr'Anya's head, felt for fever, ran her furry hands over the bandages on the woman's chest. Then she sat back and dug into her pouch. "Water, water!" she whispered urgently. "Hot water, and two bowls!" 297 |