“The enemy is cruel and ruthless. He aimsat grabbing our land, our wheat, our power points, and cinnabar. He wants torestore the exiled followers of Kyot the usurper, and through them to turn thepeople of Unkerlant into the slaves of Algarvian princes and viscounts.

“There should be no room in our ranks forwhimperers and cowards, for deserters and panic-spreaders. Our people must befearless and fight selflessly for Unkerlant. The whole kingdom now is and mustbe for the service of the army. We must fight for every inch of Unkerlantersoil, fight to the last drop of blood for our villages and towns. Wherever thearmy may be forced to retreat, all ley-line caravan cars must be taken away andthe lines wrecked. The enemy must be left not a pound of bread nor an ounce ofcinnabar. Peasants must drive away their livestock and hand over their grain toour inspectors to keep it out of the Algar-vians’ hands. All valuable propertythat cannot be moved must be destroyed.

“Friends, our forces are immeasurablylarge. The insolent enemy must soon become aware of this. Together with ourarmy, our peasants and our laborers must also go to war against the treacherousMezentio. All the strength of Unkerlant must be used to smash the foe. Victorywill be ours. Onward!”

King Swemmel’s image faded from thecrystal. Light filled it again for a moment. Then it was, or seemed to be,simply a round lump of glass once more. Garivald shook himself, like a manawakening from a deep, dream-filled sleep. Instead of seeing the whole kingdom,as Swemmel had made him do, he was back in tiny Zossen, filled with the villagehe’d known all his life.