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Show by Rollanda. "I_ talk to the Seljuk!" she said. "Thou..." She spat into the dust. • "...little pig!" Chu looked at the huge woman warily and was still. The small Deputy AVM was just barely recognizable after two days on the trail and absolutely filthy. Moreover her eyes were bloodshot from so much Tartary whiskey and her head was pounding like a Midway sledgehammer. The Seljuk, on the other hand, looked at the younger warrior sternly from her perch on the parley table. "Do not hit him so hard," she said, and Rollanda smiled. It was a huge smile showing all of her big white teeth. Her plethora of muscles glistened with sweat from the hard ride, and dust had settled across her cheeks and on her head of magnificent red-gold hair. Dr'Anya watched the giant quizzically. In faith, there was something passing familiar about her. "I will not hurt the little pig," said Rollanda, smiling, "I will not hurt him at all, my Lady Mother." Dr'Anya's eyebrows shot up. "Now," Rollanda raised her voice, "all ye Provincials get over there." She motioned to the western part of the lists. "Ye Commendium folk " She looked them over with interest, then cocked her head. "Mayhap I will not kill ye all. Mayhap I must needs keep some of ye as slaves. The ones I kill-ye will not feel a thing my good wights, fear not, for I will disintegrate ye!" Still smiling widely she admired the shining thing in her hand, noticing not at all the gasps this announcement provoked. "Thou fool!" hissed Hoqqam. "Thou must save it, thou must copy it, 326 |