as the warrior tried to cover with his
shield. A buckler is fine protection against a man who is trying to hack
you to death with a chopper, because a heavy cutting sword and a shield
have about the same inertia, and thus the same maneuverability. But the
shield isn't worth anything against a light stabbing weapon. The
warrior's shield started downward and he was unable to stop it and
reverse its direction before the commander's sword pierced his throat.

Two down, three to go. No, four. Another warrior had decided to join the
little battle against the leader of the invading Earthmen.

The commander changed his tactics just slightly with the third man. He
slashed with the tip of his blade against the descending sword-arm of
his opponent--a short, quick flick of his wrist that sheared through the
inside of the wrist, severing tendons, muscles, veins and arteries as it
cut to the bone. The sword clanged harmlessly off the commander's
shoulder. A quick thrust, and the third man died.

The other three slowed their attack and began circling warily, trying to
get behind the commander. Instead of waiting, he charged forward, again
cutting at the sword arm of his adversary, severing fingers this time.
As the warrior turned, the commander's sword pierced his side.

How long it went on, he had no idea. He kept his legs and his sword-arm
moving, and his eyes ever alert for new foes as man after man dropped
beneath that snake-tonguing blade. Inside his armor, perspiration poured
in rivulets down his skin, and his arms and legs began to ache, but not
for one second did he let up. He could not see what was going on, could
not tell the direction of the battle nor even allow his mind to wonder
what was going on more than ten paces from him.

And then, quite suddenly, it seemed, it was all over. Lieutenant
commander Hernan and five other men pulled up with their carriers, as if
from nowhere, their weapons dealing death, clearing a space around their
commander.

"You hurt?" bawled Hernan.

The commander paused to catch his breath. He knew there was a
sword-slash across his face, and his right leg felt as though there was
a cut on it, but otherwise--

"I'm all right," he said. "How's it going?"

"They're breaking," Hernan told him. "We'll have them scattered within
minutes."

Even as he spoke, the surge of battle moved away from them, toward the
forest. The charge of the carriers, wreaking havoc on every side, had
broken up t