Part 38 (1/2)
Wotar gave them instructions, the outer door was opened, and Katon, Rotark and Tharn stepped onto the sands
From the stands cath and agility they remembered from his initial appearance; the others they also recalled as being exceptional fighting-ht-hearted His supreave him assurance his plan of escape would come off perfectly when the ti himself!
These battles with men and with animals, with death the penalty for anyreat a part of hi a few feet from the eastern wall Then they turned about and waited, watching silently the wooden door of the distant ar to wait Scarcely had they turned when that door opened and three warriors, each with a bow and three arrows, cas and feet bare All were taller than the average Sepharian, ide shoulders, narrow hips and slender well-fors
”Sephar's three finest bowmen,” Katon murmured ”The tallest is Maltor, at one tireatest otten the report that he would fight in the arena Since he enlisted in the Games only to display his bowmanshi+p, he may withdraw at any tier”
He fell silent then, sudden lines of worry on his face ”Tharn, I re with a bow Weyou”
The cave-,” he said quietly ”The bow and I are good friends I will keep up ht”
Katon was satisfied ”Good Now if only we can outwit theers of their right hands; when they open on the arrow's haft, ju an arrow ready in your o The ain balance aim quickly and send your first answer
”Aim always for the belly A man can shi+ft his head and shoulders much quicker than he can his middle Besides, his belly is a broaderclose! Tharn--Maltor is for you
Rotark--see what you can do with the man on his left The other is mine
”Ah! they have stopped They still are too far away to risk a shot
Being careful, I suppose; they had better be!
”Tharn! Thrust two of your arrows point first in the sand within reach
Fit the other to your bow Do the saain! Maltor is no fool; he is trying to coax us into wasting arrows”
Katon fell silent His two friends, their bows half drawn, arrow points held doard, stood relaxed, intently gauging the approach of the enemy, now a scant forty paces away
An absolute silence had enveloped the entire amphitheater as every observer of this tense dra action
Now Maltor, arrogant and impatient, stepped a pace or two in advance of his co an arrow, he nodded over his shoulder to the others, who came up beside him Three boere raised in unison; the warriors aimed their shafts carefully, each at a different ets stood at ease, seeer
And then the scheme the wily Maltor had evolved was flashed on the enemy with a suddenness and brilliancy of execution that would have done much to settle the final outcome--had it succeeded