Riverworld, Day 71, Afternoon

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Matoaka planted herself in front of Charles and spoke to him as if no
one else was around.  "I saw five long boats with oars.  There are
approximately 40 men aboard.  Judging from their distance, they will
be here in one hour.  We have no time to prepare any more weapons than
the ones I see.  There are enough spears for everyone, and bows and
arrows for whomever can use them.  We have little time to get ready."

Matoaka hesitated then, nodding toward the catapult, she added,
"Perhaps we could use the Toyoda-san's catapult to sink a few of these
boat.  Once they get closer, we can take care of a few more with our
bow and arrows; I know how to shoot with one.  Maybe we will not have
to worry about too many of them by the time they get to shore.  Of
course, no more surprise ambush in the village after that, but it may
give us an edge."

Upon hearing Matoaka's comment, Cixi frowns, "They move with too much
haste."  She turns to Toyoda with a slight question in her eyes,
"Perhaps they are the big and we are the small?"

Without waiting for an answer, Cixi says out loud, "We must bring
supplies and young away from others.  They must have no advantages
when they come in."  She turns to Josephine, "You close to children.
Use the Christian woman to help. Take children.  Tell them to grab all
they can and move closest to the ore.  Away from shore.  Not attack
there.  Too precious."

Josephine paused for a long moment at being told to guard the
children, the emotions warring in her eyes.  She looked down at Llyr
and ruffles his hair.  Looking up she nodded her head. The new man,
Luria, joined her and they began herding the children, speaking
softly, telling them to be like little mice, quiet quiet quiet.

Jeanne stared coldly at Cixi when Josephine translated the words. Her
eyes rolled heavenward, and she murmured quietly to herself in
French. Looking back at Cixi she said, "You are neither my Queen nor
my general. And I dare say I'll be more useful in a fight than you
would be. Perhaps you should look after the children with Josephine."

Cixi turned towards Josephine with a questioning look on her face.
She raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders a bit as if to say,
'what did I do?'

Josephine put a hand on Jeanne's forearm, stilling the other woman.
In a soft voice she explained to Cixi, "Jeanne is an honored warrior
among her people.  She was revered as a saint in my time, for her
skill and perseverance and... the strength of her convictions."  She
paused and nodded to Jeanne. "You go with them, I will care for the
children."

Jeanne turned on her heel, trotted quickly to her chapel. She emerged
with her bow and arrows, still muttering.  "Curse their damnable
thoughts of civilization. I told them to make me a sword!"

"They may not know that we know they are not friendly," Cixi noted. "I
say we keep this guise but longer and let them land.  In boat, is not
all of them.  Our knowledge is our trump.  We let them land but not
let them beyond shore."

Cixi spreads her arms, "We meet them there as delegates with open
arms.  But our venom will be poison if they come too close.  I will go
and meet along with Charles who can speak well and some of Toyoda's
men for backup."

Cixi nodded to Matoaka, "Your bow good.  Disguise self as quickly as
can.  Find who knows how to shoot and begin lining up.  Far enough so
not in direct range.  Close enough so can shoot while still on shore.
Maybe along forest edge?"

Matoaka passed her hand one more time on her bear skull and face.  She
looked around for last night's fire and walked up to its ashes.  She
crouched in front of it and randomly started smearing the soot on her
face and shiny skull.  Once satisfied, she stood up.  "Now I am
ready."

Cixi addressed Benjamin and Shaw. "You are our hidden strength.  Hide
self in forest.  Start finding poles to use as spears."  She looked at
the three, Benjamin, Matoaka, and Shaw, "They must not know you here.

"If need to.  We can trap in hut along edge of town and burn them."
Cixi paused but a moment and then directed Toyoda, "Load catapult.
Find heavy things.  Perhaps food, many towels.... yes.  Towels!
Gather them and get fire."

Cixi began to point about her energetically as people began to move
about, "You.  Without arm.  Must get fire.  If they have no metal,
fire beat wood elements.  Gather with some of the older children.
Make look natural like on torches along side of huts or a fire in
middle of camp."

Cixi turned back to Toyoda and nearly grabbed him by the towel to say,
"If they get too close.  Best lose innovation than give up to use it
against us."  With all the movement around, she was forced to release
him quickly.

Cixi cast a look at Jeanne and spoke to her more softly. "You.. pray
for us." She made a sign that she'd seen the Christians make, moving
her hand down her front and then across her chest, and finally
pressing her two hands together.

Finally, she added, "We must keep ... ACE in hole.  This probably not
their whole fleet.  Charles and Enrich, you good at coming up with
ideas.  Think of plan if we need to finish attack and go after
Ford... or if there's a better way."

Cixi hurried off to help the older children with their efforts to
gather clothes and torches.  As she went about her work, she mouthed
something to herself in her native tongue.

Charles spoke briefly with Diana, who nodded, and then told the
others, "I will take some of the Celtic warriors and hide them behind
the hill to the north.  It is where I began my offensive on this place
before.  They will wait there for my signal -- They will serve as a
second wave or to defend the shore from a second attack, or as a
pincher to seal off the enemy.  Instruct all the warriors to subdue the
enemy if possible, but kill if they have to. OK?  We do not need
another blood bath here, or we shall have to rename this town for
'blood' or 'death'.

"I will go now and attempt to Parlay with them before they land -- It
will possibly avert this event, or at least buy you time to prepare.
I won't sacrifice myself at this point -- I'm just buying us time.

"We will defend our home, but do not make this a second blood-bath on
this village site.  The first was unnecessary, and I feel this one is
too.  I will go to speak with the leader of the boats.  I hope it is
Ford himself.  I will try Reason, one last time, but if not, It will
give you some time to prepare and make ready.  May God's blessing, be
on all of you, in this the hour of our need."

Charles turned towards the beach area where the boats were
approaching, taking his spear with him.  Cixi smiled, and a certain
softness touched her face.  It vanished quickly as one of the children
shoved a couple of towels into her line of vision.  Cixi nonchalantly
brushed the towels aside and motioned the child gone before following
Charles a bit towards the shoreline.  After a couple of steps, she
looked for Ehrich.

Ehrich sighed.  "There is little time to prepare.  It appears we will
just have to fight head to head.  Surprise may not be our ally."
Thinking some more, he added, "We can still place quick warriors
hidden in the trees, who can spring out to bite at the attackers
flanks as they enter.

"Even without surprise, craftiness comes in handy.  I will try to sink
their raft before they arrive, leaving them wet and tired if they
continue on.  If I can't sink the raft, we can rely upon the catapult
when they are closer."

"I can hold my breath for very long periods.  I can likely swim underneath
their raft without being spotted, and cut the ropes or smash a hole.
I can then escape underwater and outswim any pursuers.

Cixi waited until he finished.  She looked behind her at the river's
edge and then back to Enrich.  Quietly, she shook her head.  In a soft
voice that almost sang she said, "No.  Hasty moves may lead one
without more than just his breath."

She paused and placed one hand on her lip, as if to ponder for a
moment.  With some resistance at the start, "Your holding breath may
be a good idea, but not in the way you think."

Lifting her finger slightly away from her mouth, she said, "Hold that
thinking.  What I seek is not a plan for the now; but a plan for the
later.  What do we do if we capture these men?  What do we do if we
kill?  Can we hurt them like our companion there? without arms or
legs?  Then, we go after Ford?  Or wait?"

She paused only enough to catch her breath and then said in a commanding
voice, "Must plan next action.  Actions of the now already decided."

Ehrich frowned, and looked around for Charles or Jeanne. Seeing them
busy, he looked thoughtful for a moment, considering.

Cixi realized that he meant to try his plan anyway. She thought
quickly.

"Maybe you right," Cixi said. "Swim yes.  Under their boats.  But do
not make noise."  She makes a pulling motion with her hands, "When
they land, drag boats away.  Keep boats off coast.  Leave them no
escape unless we give it to them."  She waves her hand a bit, "pull
boats aside, we may need later."

Ehrich slowly nodded.

Josephine stopped Shaw as he passed, grabbing his arm.  She looked at
him for a long moment then cupped his cheek and kissed him fiercely.
"Please take care of yourself.... Please."

Benjamin found a sheltered spot, not visible from where the attackers
are likely to land but where he could watch the landing and the
events, and where he could run to the scene of the landing quickly if
need be, and waited. Shaw and Matoaka joined him there.

Shaw spoke quietly to Matoaka.  "No killing he says. Well, as far as
Ford goes I agree, I would like him and his murderers taken alive. I
want him to see my face when he dies."

Matoaka stared at Shaw for a few seconds hesitating, but finally
replied to him in a whisper.  "Why not just put an arrow through his
neck and get it over with?"  Matoaka stretched her bow with no arrow
in the direction of the river, aimed at an imaginary target and
released it with a grin on her face.  "The others will not allow us to
get close enough to kill him if we capture him.  Only in the heat of
battle could we approach him."

Matoaka turned her head toward Shaw expectantly.  "Unless, of course,
you have a plan."

"A plan?" Shaw replied. "No, I'm afraid not. We will just have to take
advantage of what ever opportunity arises."

Matoaka's face tensed a bit.  "Leave me a piece of his hide if you get
to him before I do."

Shaw looked over at her with a smile.  "Oh, of course. His and the
rest who held us down."  He popped a cube of dreamgum into his mouth,
chewing slowly.

Robbie, clearly drunk, joined the Celts. He had painted himself blue
and armed himself with a spear. Everyone was in position.

At the Riverbank, Charles awaited the arrival of the boats. Freud
stood with him to serve as a translator. As they watched, the five
boats put into shore, and seven men stepped out of each, leaving one
behind as guards. They were armed with spears and slings, and Ford was
at their head, with three lieutenants close behind.

Shaw and Matoaka silently drew their bows and trained them on the men,
alert for aggression. Shaw's face was covered with a sheen of sweat.

Matoaka was tempted to fire then. She had a clean line of sight on
Ford and her anger was rising. But she did not want to endanger
Charles. Now was not yet the time.

Matoaka and Benjamin, almost unbelieving, heard the twang of Shaw's
bow.

Charles raised his hand in greeting, and Ford stepped forward. Charles
and Freud heard a soft whistle as an arrow fired from the forest took
Ford square in the chest.