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"You will appear to be Rebels. Only one of the Circle would detect the
deception. None of them are in Oar. The Rebel here is independently minded. We
will take advantage of his failure to summon support." The Rebel is as plagued
by personality politics as is our side.
Shifter beckoned One-Eye. "Status of Colonel Zouad?"
"He hasn't cracked."
"He's tough," Raven said, begrudging the compliment.
"You getting any names?" Elmo asked me.
I had a nice list. Elmo was pleased.
"We'd better go," Shifter said. "Before Limper strikes."
One-Eye gave us the passwords. Scared, convinced I was not ready for this,
more convinced that I did not dare contest Shifter's selections, I trudged
along in the Taken's wake.
I don't know when it happened. I just glanced up and found myself walking with
strangers. I gobbled at Shifter's back.
Raven laughed. I understood then. Shifter had cast his glamour over us. We now
appeared to be captains of the Rebel persuasion. "Who are we?" I asked.
Shifter indicated Raven. "Harden, of the Circle. Raker's brother-in-law. They
hate one another the way Catcher and Limper hate one another." Next, Elmo.
"Field Major Reef, Harden's chief of staff. You, Harden's nephew, Motrin
Hanin, as vicious an assassin as ever lived."
We had heard of none of them, but Shifter assured us their presence would not
be questioned. Harden was in and out of Forsberg all the time, making life
tough for his wife's brother.
Right, I thought. Fine and dandy. And what about the Limper? What do we do if
he shows up?
The people at the place where they were holding Zouad were more embarrassed
than curious when Cornie announced Harden. They had not deferred to the
Circle. They did not ask questions. Apparently the real Harden possessed a
vile, volatile, unpredictable temper.
"Show them the prisoner," Shifter said,
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One Rebel gave Shifter a look that said, "Just you wait, Cornie."
The place was packed with Rebels. I could almost hear Elmo thinking out his
plan of attack,
They took us down into a basement, through a cleverly concealed doorway, and
down deeper still, into a room with earthen walls and ceiling supported by
beams and timbers. The decor came straight out of a fiend's imagination.
Torture chambers exist, of course, but the mass of men never see them, so they
never really believe in them. I'd never seen one before.
I surveyed the instruments, looked at Zouad there strapped into a huge,
bizarre chair, and wondered why the Lady was considered such a villain. These
people said they were the good guys, fighting for the right, liberty, and the
dignity of the human spirit, but in method they were no better than the
Limper.
Shifter whispered to Raven. Raven nodded. I wondered how we would get our
cues. Shifter had not rehearsed us much. These people would expect us to act
like Harden and his cutthroats.
We seated ourselves and observed the interrogation. Our presence inspired the
questioners. I closed my eyes. Raven and Elmo were less disturbed.
After a few minutes "Harden" ordered "Major Reef to go handle some piece of
business. I do not recall the excuse. I was distracted. Its purpose was to put
Elmo back on the street so he could start the roundup.
Shifter was winging it. We were supposed to sit tight till he cued us. I
gathered we would make our move when Elmo closed in and panic started seeping
down from above. Meantime, we would watch Colonel Zouad's demolition.
The Colonel was not that impressive, but then the torturers had had him a
while. I expect anyone would look hollow and shrunken after enduring their
mercies.
We sat like three idols. I sent mental hurryups to Elmo. I had been trained
'to take pleasure in the healing, not the breaking, of human flesh.
Even Raven seemed unhappy. Doubtless he had fantasized torments for Zouad, but
when it came to the actuality his basic decency triumphed. His style was to
stick a knife in
a man and have done.
The earth lurched as if stomped by a huge boot. Soil fell from the walls and
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