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Show the Seljuk needs. . . ." The big woman swung the weapon toward the man, barely missing the side of his head. "Shut ye ug!" she said. "Or I disintegrate thee!" Then she aimed it at the Commendium folk around the table and sighted down the barrel. Nell, standing beside Brandon, began to whirr and cluck wildly. Phrapp darted in front of Dr'Anya and spread out his left arm to shield her. Rollanda smiled again and lowered her weapon. "Hah!" she said. "Who dost thou expect to save there? Who is there, ugly man?" She threw back her head and laughed. "Thy woman, heh? Dost thou have a woman thou lovest behind thee, ugly man?" Dr'Anya grasped the table and stepped from behind Phrapp whose face had turned brick red. Using the table to steady herself, she walked deliberately up to the Lieuteant, her eyes fairly flashing fire. "How dare ye speak so to this man," she said witheringly, leaning back and looking up into the young woman's eyes boldly. "This man is a g r e a t . . . ." She stopped abruptly, astonished to see the warrior back away from her, her handsome face blenching in terror and shock. "Doctor Needlesmith!" Rollanda breathed. "Aaiiieeee, Doctor Needesmith!" Her eyes filled with tears. Then she began laughing through them. "Doctor Needlesmith!" she roared, and then turned toward the Provincials and raised her arms. "This," she screamed, "this is my dear, dear friend. This woman, this saint!" She leaned over and picked Dr'Anya up like a child and kissed her wetly on the forehead. Then she put her down carefully and screamed for a chair. A Provincial knight turned wildly to get one from the table. 327 |