The citified version was played on more limited ground. Vorgreberg's „field" covered one square mile north of the city cemetery. There were forty players to a team. There were rules intended to make the game fun.

Everyone cheated.

Captures resembled Steal the Flag. The teams tried to capture balls from their opponents and carry them to their own „castles." Each started with five oxhead-sized balls. Each tried to prevent opposing players from seizing its own balls, or to recover them once stolen. The game was played in two forms. In the short the first team to convey all its opponent's balls to its own castle won. In the long, the winner was the team which acquired all the balls. The long could continue for weeks. Round Vorgreberg they played the short form.

„I don't have the wind I used to," Bragi admitted. „And the legs get tired faster. But it's the only fun I have anymore. It's the only time I can get off by myself and think. There aren't any distractions out there."

„And on the point there's no one to listen if you want to have a little heart-to-heart with your side?" „Even the walls have ears here, Michael." Trebilcock groaned. He did not want to waste an after­ noon running through the woods. ... He grinned. He could get himself thrown out of bounds. A player could not return to the game if his opponents ejected him in front of a judge.

That was the crucial point. A judge had to witness any infraction. Creative cheating was the soul of the game.

„Meet me out there," Bragi said. „We drew the west castle. Try to show up by noon." He smiled. He knew how Michael felt about Captures. „Wear something old."

„Your wish is my command. Can I go?"

„Head out. We'll talk there."

Trebilcock slouched away. Bragi watched him go. The tall, lank spymaster looked like a caricature of a man. His skin was so pale it seemed never to have seen the sun. He appeared to be a weakling.