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QUETZAL'S FLOCK<br />
"Your future is governed by your Masters. It is from them that you will learn<br />
your destiny. For me, it is not permitted that I should know. We will not meet again,<br />
Kane Ashford, who is Quetzal of his <strong>Flock</strong>. Our ways now lie apart - go in peace, my<br />
friend."<br />
Kane pleaded with him.<br />
"Urartu - you must leave Jubal on the Ship. If you stay, it will be impossible<br />
for you to survive - you must know that. Your people need you!"<br />
Urartu smiled and shook his head.<br />
"Can you alter your destiny, Master of the Images? How then can I alter<br />
mine?"<br />
"If I could only be sure about my destiny."<br />
His eyes widened.<br />
"You are still in ignorance after all this time? Quetzal knows, it is Kane<br />
Ashford who seeks to turn aside. You are the Focus of the Images. You will draw to<br />
yourself four who are your Companions of the Image. When your number is<br />
complete, you will be used to fulfil the purposes of the Masters of Psi!"<br />
The mist drifted between them, it was time to leave. Kane stuttered an<br />
inadequate farewell, and stumbled through the mist shrouded floor to the entrance. As<br />
always, there were so many things he could have asked - he nearly turned back but he<br />
realised the futility. Urartu would not answer and they were not destined to meet<br />
again. Nuraghe followed him in dazed silence, his ears had been opened to<br />
unimaginable things and he was suddenly frightened of the man he had been told to<br />
find.<br />
There was nothing more to keep them at the Crag Caverns. Kane was faced<br />
with the task of breaking in his new companion and those who were out on patrol. On<br />
the way back from the Cave of the Wraiths and with the alternative purpose of getting<br />
Nuraghe's mind off of what he had heard, he explained his need to - rest. The use of<br />
'rest' was easier than trying to explain the differences in their concept of 'sleep'. His<br />
explanation was broken off as they entered his quarters. They were confronted with<br />
five groaning bodies, they were heavily singed and very much the worse for wear. The<br />
Bole stood militantly in the middle of the room, which looked as if it had been<br />
through a cyclone.<br />
"Five intruders have been subdued."<br />
If the Bole had learned anything from its association with Kane, it was that it<br />
paid to get its version of the story in first, before anyone else muddied the waters with<br />
a variation.<br />
"I have got eyes! My God! You really let fly when you get going. A simple<br />
warning would have been sufficient."<br />
"Your instructions were to safeguard your integrity."<br />
"You know as well as I do that I never give concise instructions. Learn to use<br />
your discretion."<br />
"I did."<br />
"Then, God help us!"<br />
He set about trying to pick up the walking wounded and got roundly worn at<br />
for his pains. Nuraghe stood immobile in the face of threatened annihilation. Kane<br />
told the Bole to retreat to the wall, it complied. It looked like a delinquent schoolboy<br />
with the sulks.<br />
"Give a hand, Nuraghe - it won't bite."<br />
They propped the five men against one of the walls and eyed the scorch<br />
marks.<br />
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