“But there’s the heart of the problem, Shar: we have to
live to have children. And make the kind of a world in
which they’ll have time to study. Otherwise”
Lavon broke off as a figure darted between the guards at
the door of the hall and twisted to a halt
“What news, lhil?”
“The same,” Phil said, shrugging with his whole body. His
feet touched the floor. “The Flosc’s castles are going up all
along the bar; they’ll be finished with them soon, and then
we won’t dare to get near them. Do you still Mnic you can
drive them out?”
Lavon nodded.
“But why?”
“First, for effect. We’ve been on the defensive so far, even
though we’ve made a good job of it. We’ll have to follow
that up with an attack of our own if we’re going to keep the
Eaters confused. Second, the castles Flosc builds are all
‘ tunnels and exits and entrancesmuch better than worm-
houses for us. I hate to think of what would have happened
if the Eaters had thought of blockading us inside this hall.
And we need an outpost in enemy country, Phil, where there
are Eaters to kill.”
“This is enemy country,” Phil said. “Stephanost is a
Bottom-dweller.”
“But she’s only a trapper, not a hunter. Any time we want
to kill her, we can find her right where we left her last. It’s
the leapers like Dicran and Nothoica, the swimmers like
Rotar, the colony-builders like Flosc that we have to wipe
out first.”
“Then we’d better start now, Lavon. Once the castles are
finished”
“Yes. Get your squads together, Phil. Shar, come on; we’re
leaving the hall.”
“To raid the castles?”