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select group the clan had been eagerly expecting, ignored her

warning glance and answered in the affirmative.

Having already held the clan spellbound with his faultless command of

the Iron Masters' language and his graphic descriptions of life at all

levels in Ne-Issan, he now revealed that Clearwater was a summoner who

held the key to several Rings of Power.

Hey-yahhh . . .

Like all wordsmiths, Cadillac could not resist the lure of a receptive

audience - especially when the story he was telling enhanced his own

importance. Let the elders of the Clan Kojak mark this! He, Cadillac,

son of Sky-Walker out of Black-Wing and she, daughter of Thunder-Bird

out of Sun-Dance, had been born in the shadow of The Thrice-Gifted

One.

And Mr Snow - who was known and respected by his peers through the

annual gatherings at the trading post - had declared them to be the

Sword and Shield of Talisman!

And had not the M'Calls, the paramount clan of the She-Kargo, caused

nine cloud-warriors to fall from the sky before forcing the first iron

snake to venture into Plainfolk territory to turn tail and flee?

Cadillac described the parts he and Clearwater had played in that great

victory, allying their powers to those possessed by Mr Snow - The

Storm-Bringer.

Carnegie-Hall and the elders roared their approval. In truth these

were mighty deeds!

But there was more, declared Cadillac. And with his audience hanging

on every word he went on to describe how, before leaving the eastern

lands, they and their three companions had dealt the Iron Masters a

mortal blow, killing mighty warlords and decimating their armies with

sky-fire and earth thunder.

Hey-yahhh . . .

This, concluded Cadillac, was why they and their companions were feared

and pursued by the sand 118

burrowers just as, in time, the dead-faces would seek to avenge their

wounded pride.

This last remark of Cadillac's was totally off-the-cuff; mere verbal

embroidery. Had he been drawing images of the future from a

seeing-stone with their meaning spelled out in letters of fire, he

could not have made a more accurate prediction. But he was not

destined to discover the chilling truth that lay behind his boastful

words until the danger burst upon him like a sudden rockslide sweeping

down upon travellers in a narrow mountain pass.

Carnegie-Hall, a dark, sinister-looking lump-head with a bushy black

beard - who Cadillac judged to be half the age of Mr Snow - was quick

to pick up on the unexpected news that Clearwater was a summoner. If

she had aided Mr Snow to defeat the attack on the M'Calls could she not

- as a simple gesture of thanks for the protection and hospitality

which the Clan Kojak was honoured to offer them - drive these

cloud-warriors from the skies and force the unseen iron snake to return

to its burrow?

The question left Cadillac open-mouthed but he had gone so far over the

top there was only one thing he could say: 'If it is the will of

Talisman, this thing shall be done." Then, feeling that his reply

needed more of a flourish, he added: 'And in its doing the Plainfolk

shall witness the power of The Chosen, and the Clan Kojak shall be

justly rewarded for being the first to receive them."

How true, my young friend, thought Carnegie-Hall.

How true. But the rewards he had in mind were of an entirely different

order.

As soon as they had a moment to themselves, Clearwater treated Cadillac

to a withering look. 'Well done. This time you've excelled

yourself."

Her eyes blazed as her anger mounted. 'How dare you speak of the

secret gifts that are mine alone to reveal!?"

'I got carried away,' said Cadillac. He spread his hands

apologetically.

'You idiot?Clearwater vented her fury by drumming her fists on his

chest. 'I sat there wishing your tongue would drop out! How can we do

what you have promised! ?"

Cadillac fended her off gently. 'Calm down! I didn't promise we'd do

anything. I said it would be done if it was the will of Talisman!" He

stepped back, drew himself up and said loftily: 'It's time you

understood that I don't just say things. These words are given to

me.

You or I may not understand their meaning when they spring from my lips

but in time, Talisman's purpose will 'be made plain to us. Learn to be

patient, for all will be well."

'Bravo,' replied Clearwater. 'I hope you're right." He was beginning