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"Group Q," a crackly voice said. "What is the status of the reprisal against the Mammoth?"
"Gods be praised, we are hitting them, brother," a clearer voice reported back. "There is much shooting. Q-4 is in their camp now. Sniper fire has delayed them dynamiting the remaining livestock."
Valentine smiled. Legworms took a lot of killing. He wondered if the Moondaggers knew just how long-lived a Kentucky feud could be.
"Is that you, Rafe?"
"No, brother, he has been wounded. Even the boys here can hit a target at two hundred meters. They vanish into the woods and hills and the trackers do not return."
"Where's that signal coming from?" Valentine asked, not familiar with this style of radio.
"Is this Group Q in the Green River lands?"
"No, sir. Due north, a little northeast toward Frankfort. I'd say it's coming from the other side of our column. This is the channel the radio was on," Preville said, punching a button.
"Patrol L-6. L-6, you are overdue at Zulu," a clearer voice said. "Report, please. Patrol L-6, report, please. We are listening on alternative frequency Rook."
Valentine looked at the dashboard of the command car. A card with L-6 written on it stood in a holder.
"Guess they didn't get off a report after all," Valentine said.
They listened for a few more minutes. They heard complaints about blown-up bridges and roads filled with cut-down trees. A mobile feuling station had been blown up.
Kentucky, it seemed, had finally had enough of the Moondaggers.
"I want to talk to the prisoner," Valentine said.
The prisoner had a scuffed look about him. His eyes widened as he saw Valentine approach. Valentine looked down. His uniform was something of a mess.
Valentine cleaned his blade off on the man's shoulder.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Valentine said. "All I want is a news report."
"News report?" the Moondagger said.
"Yes. You know, like on the television. You've watched television."
"Allchannel," the Moondagger said.
Valentine smiled, remembering the logo from Xanadu. "Yes, allchannel. It's the Curfew News. Give me the highlights from Kentucky."
Realization of what Valentine wanted broke over his face like a dawn. He raised his chin.
"The worm herders. They fight with us. Our Supreme, he says to give a lesson, but from that lesson we must give five more lessons, and then fifty. So now we must call in many more re-erforcings. Much fighting everywhere-here one day, there another. I am diligent, I am peaceable, I follow orders only."
Valentine tried to get more out of him: places, clans, the nature of these "re-erforcings,"
but he was just an youth taught little more than to follow orders, line up to eat, obey his faith, and of course shoot.
"Let's get him back to headquarters. Give him a little food and water. He looks like he could use it."
"I pass my test," the prisoner said.
"Come again?" Valentine asked.
"The Gods, always they test us. Both with blessings and misfortunes. Either can lead you from the righteous path."
"On that, we're agreed," Valentine said.
