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were looking directly into his own。 Now Mars； marching forward out of the smoke； appeared as no more than three times taller than a man。 Now he was lowering his armored helm as if in preparation for battle； and still he tramped thunderously nearer； a moving mountain of a being； kicking stumps and boulders out of his way。
He was descending the near side of the nearest hill now； taller than the treetops of the ruined grove as he moved among them。 Before Birch could think of any way he might possibly react； Mars had reached the muddy little ford。
Once there； he raised his arms。 Looking preoccupied； as if his divine thoughts were elsewhere； and without preamble or warning； he spitted the man who had been driving the first wagon neatly on his spear； which was as long as a tall tree itself； and only a little thinner。 That man's wife and children came spilling around him from their cart； and rolling on the ground as if they could feel the same spear in their own guts。
Mars moved quickly； and came so close that he was hard to see； like a mountain when you were standing on it。 Birch felt his own wagon go over next。 If that great spear had thrust for him too； it had somehow missed。 All Birch could feel was a fall that left him half stunned； and then a growing pain in his leg and hip； and a numbness that threatened to grow into a greater pain still； and the awareness that he could not move。 Near him Micheline and the children lay huddled and jumbled in the midst of their spilled belongings。 Except for Birch himself they all appeared to be unhurt； but Micheline was gasping and the children whimpering softly in new terror。 Still connected to the wagon by the leather straps of the harness； their only loadbeast lay twitching； its whole body crumpled into an impossible position。 It had been slaughtered； butchered by a mere gesture from the passing God of War。
Mars' windstorm of a voice roared forth； above the cowering humans' heads： 〃What's all this talk I hear； these last few years； about twelve special Swords？ I've never seen them and I don't want to。 What's so great about them； really？ Can anyone here answer me that？ My war…spear here does the job as neatly as it ever did。〃
If the god was really talking to the humans he had just trampled； and whether he expected any of his surviving victims to actually enter into a dialogue； Birch never knew。 The voice that did rumble an answer back at Mars was deeper and louder by far than any human tones could be。 It came rolling down at them from the hillside on the other side of the ford； and it said： 〃Your spear has failed you before； Wargod。 It will again be insufficient。〃
Birch did not recognize that voice。 But Mars did； for Birch saw him turn； with an expression suddenly and almost madly joyful； to face its owner。 The God of War cried out： 〃It is the dog！ The great son of a bitch that they call the Lord of Beasts。 At last！ I have been looking for you for a long time。〃
Birch was still lying on his back； aware that Micheline and the children were still at his side； and evidently still unhurt； but beyond that he could not。 think for the moment about himself or his family； nor speak； though his dry lips formed words。 Even his own pain and injury were momentarily forgotten。 He could only watch。 He had never seen a single god in his whole life before； and now here were two at one time。
Lord Draffut came walking downhill； toward the ford and the few crouching； surviving humans； and the poor wreckage that was all that was left of the train of carts。 Draffut's towering man…shaped form splashed knee…deep through the small river； now partially dammed by the jumble of wrecked vehicles； murdered loadbeasts and human bodies； all intermingled with the poor useless things that the humans had been trying to carry with them to safety inside the walls of Tashigang。 The bloodied water splashed up around those knees of glowing fur； and Birch saw marveling that the elements of water and mud were touched with temporary life wherever the body of Draffut came in contact with them。
〃Down on four legs； beast！〃 the Wargod roared； brandishing his spear at the other god who was as tall as he。
Lord Draffut had nothing more to say to Mars just now。 The Beastlord only bared his fangs as he crossed the stream and halted； slightly crouching； almost within reach of the God of War。
The first thrust of the great spear came； too swift and powerful for watching Birch to see it plainly； or for Draffut to ward it in just the way he sought to do。 It pierced Draffut's right forearm； but only lightly； in and out near the surface； so that he was still able to catch the spear's shaft in both his hands。 A moment later he had wrenched the weapon out of the grasp of Mars pletely； and reversed it in his own grip。
Mars had another spear； already magically in hand。 The two weapons clashed。 Then Draffut thrust again； with such violence that the shield of Mars was transfixed by the blow； and knocked out of the Wargod's grasp； to go rolling away with the spear like some great cartwheel on the end of a broken axle。
Mars cried out； a bellow of rage and fear； thought Birch； not of injury。 Even to witness the fear of a god was terrible。 In the next moment Mars demonstrated the ability to produce still more spears at will； and had now armed himself with one in each hand。
Draffut lunged at him and closed with him； and locked his massive arms around his great opponent； clamping the arms of Mars against the cuirass protecting the Wargod's body。 At the same time Draffut sank his enormous fangs into god…flesh at the base of the thick armored neck。 At the touch of the Lord of Beasts； even the magical armor of Mars melted and flowed with life； treacherously exposing the divine flesh that it was meant to guard。
The giants stamped and swayed； the earth quivering beneath their feet； even though his upper arms were pinioned； Mars tried stabbing at his attacker with the spears he held in both his hands。 Birch； beyond marveling now； saw how one spearhead was converted by Draffut's life…powers to the giant head of a living serpent； and how the serpent's head struck back at the arm and wrist of the god who held it。 Mars shrieked in deafening pain and rage。
Micheline； seeing the fight in her own terms； as an opportunity for human action； demanded of her husband whether he was hurt； whether he could move。 Birch； taking his eyes off the contending giants only for a moment； told her that yes； he was hurt； and no； he could not move； and that she should take the children and get on away from here； and e back later when it was safe。
She protested briefly； but when she saw that he really could not move； she did as he had said。 The fighting gods were much too busy to notice their departure； or that of any of the other people who could still move。
The spearhead in the right hand of Mars had not been changed by Draffut's touch； it stubbornly refused to flow with life。 〃You will not melt this weapon down！〃 Mars cried； and with its bright point and edge he tore open a wound along the shaggy ribs of the Lord of Beasts。 And meanwhile Mars had managed to cast the treacherous biting serpent from him。
Now the God of Healing could no longer entirely heal himself。 He bled red sparkling blood； from his side and from his wounded arm as well。
Yet he closed with Mars and disarmed him again of his remaining spear。 He seized Mars in a wrestler's grip； and lifted him and threw him down on rocks； so that the earth shook with the shock of impact； and the water in the nearby stream leapt up in little spouts。
But as soon as he was free of Draffut's grip； Mars bounced up； a spear once more in each hand； just as before。 He was bleeding too； with blood as red as Draffut's； but thicker； and so hot it steamed； rushing out from the place where Draffut's fangs had torn his neck。
Mars said： 〃You cannot kill a true god； dog…being。 We are immortal。〃
Draffut was approaching him again； closing in slowly and methodically； looking for the best chance to attack。 〃Hermes died。 If I cannot kill you。。。 it is not because you are a god。 It will be because。。。〃
And now again … Birch did not understand； or hope to understand； everything that he was seeing and hearing … it seemed that Mars was capable of fear。 〃Why？〃 the War…god asked。
Draffut answered： 〃Because there is too much of humanity in you。 Human beings are not the gods' creation。 You are theirs。 You and all your peers who meet in the Ludus Mountains。〃
This brought on a bluster of roaring； and insults from Mars； to which Draffut did not bother to reply。 Meanwhile the two giants continued their steady； stealthy circling and stalking of each other。
But； finally； it was as if Draffut's calm statement about humanity had struck deeper than any planned insult。 It must have struck so deep as to provoke even the God of War to that ultimate reaction； thought。
Mars rumbled at the other； 〃What did you mean by that foolishness？ That we are their creation？〃
〃I mean to tell you what I saw； on that day when I stood among you； on the cold mountaintop； with the Sword of Stealth in my hand。。。 Sightblinder let me see into the inward nature of the gods； you and the others there。 And since then I have known。。。 if I