Strata

sword would have hit the 5,000 kV line –
Marco!
It is essential he does not faint again!’
    The party left the forest and headed hub-wards by Kin’s estimation, on a track that ran alternately between stretches of half-cultivated ground and marshes.
    The smoke pillar loomed, dominating the sky. Its tip was now made ragged by high-altitude winds.
    Soon they met a straggle of people coming the other way. They ran off the track when they saw Lothar’s band, but he wheeled after them and one man was caught. He was brought before Lothar, struggling and gasping out answers to the questions that were grunted at him.
    ‘Silver,’ said Kin, ‘how do you say “I’m nearly freezing to death”?’
    Silver translated. Kin tapped Lothar on the shoulder and repeated the phrase, as best she could.
    He turned in the saddle and stared at herin astonishment, before unfastening the heavy brooch that held his cloak. Kin wrapped the heavy and odorous cloth around her. There was a comment, almost inaudible, from the senior priest.
    ‘He said “Soon you will both be warmed by the fires of Hell”,’ murmured Silver helpfully.
    ‘Great. I’ve only been here a few hours and already I’ve made friends.’
    ‘Listen carefully. Your party contains priests of the Christ-Creator religion. They are heading towards the smoke column in the belief that it is a sign that the Christ has returned. Lothar, however, is a minor noble with a line in brigandage and part-time looting. According to our informant, he is a son of Saitan.’
    ‘Saitan has a lot of relatives in these parts,’ said Kin.
    ‘It is a strange religion. Everyone is evil until proved holy. Our informant says the priests met up with Lothar on the road and they banded together for mutual protection, but this liaison is likely to end at any moment.’
    ‘Are you telling me that Lothar’s God is returning and he’s thinking of nothing but pillage?’
    ‘Probably rape and murder as well,’ said Silver. ‘You are heading for a holy house for the night. We will endeavour to rescue you then. Now I must sign off for the moment, I’ve got an injured man to attend to. I’ll say this forthese Christers, they’re brave. This one hit out at Marco. Picture the result.’
    ‘Dead?’
    ‘I persuaded Marco that the man was more useful alive. He just broke both his arms.’
    In the early evening they came to a town of thatched houses surrounding what Silver identified as a religious foundation. The muddy streets were thick with people and carts. The party got through only after Lothar sent men ahead to clear a path with the flats, and sometimes the points, of their swords.
    There were noisy crowds around the holy buildings, dressed in the main in drab and holy colours. The senior priest was greeted effusively, even frantically, and helped to dismount. Lothar watched impassively. Looking round, Kin saw that his men had fanned out among the crowd with drawn bows, sometimes glancing at the sky.
    The senior priest, identified by Silver as Otto, spoke sharply to a holy man. He ran off and returned a few minutes later at a respectful distance in front of one who, to judge by the way the crowd parted for him, was even holier.
    He was tubby and red-eyed, as if he hadn’t slept for some time. Over the standard robe he wore a red cloak with patterns in gold thread, now crusted with dirt. He listened gravely as Otto spoke. Then he walked over to Lothar’shorse and peered at Kin. Finally he reached out and pinched her sharply on the thigh.
    In the circumstances, she decided against any action.
    Lothar dismounted and fell on one knee in front of the priest, one hand on his heart. He spoke eloquently. To Kin he sounded like a salesman.
    She tried to raise Silver.
    ‘I can be of little help,’ the shand reported. ‘Latin is a ceremonial language, like a religious allspeak. This is one of the early German tongues, I think. The fat man is possibly the local bishop, and this is a trial. What appears to be at stake is whether Lothar keeps you or hands you over.’
    ‘What about the heroic rescue? It’s wearying, you know, constantly being tensed up waiting for one’s friends to plummet out of the sky with lasers blazing—’
    ‘I had intended using your stunner, but it was not in your suit,’ said Silver. ‘No doubt you lost it on the floating island. Plan B also will not work. Marco intended to swoop down wearing two belts to carry you off, but Lothar’s men maintain a constant