It was Altai who broke the spell. She stepped in front of Sittas and said, “You cannot kill him!”
“You are a woman, and unarmed. Stand aside.”
“You’ll have to kill me first.”
Before the warrior could reply, the farmer who had driven the truck rushed up and stood beside the girl. “And me too!”
Immediately, everyone in the square began to throng around the warrior. There was not a weapon on any of hem, but they stood there, unmoving, as the Komani watched them through his unblinking, yellow cat’s eyes.
With his free hand, the warrior reached for the pistol on his belt. Before he could grasp it, a beam lanced through his shoulder. The warrior sagged to the ground. His sword clattered on the paving stones.
Everyone turned, and saw Vorgens and Mclntyre at the top of the town hall steps. The sergeant held a gun in his massive fist.
Vorgens dashed down the steps, with Mclntyre at his heels. The crowd opened a lane for them.
“He was going to kill us!” Altai sobbed.
Vorgens put his arm around her. “It’s all right. It’s allight”
The warrior painfully climbed to his knees and began to reach for the sword that he had dropped,
Mclntyre stamped a heavy boot on the sword and put his gun to the Komani’s head.
“Don’t kill him!” Sittas cried. “He was only following the orders of Okatar.”
Without taking his eyes from the warrior, Mclntyre said. “I know how they think. As long as this one lives, he’ll have nothin’ else on his mind but killin’ you.”
“Does that mean that 1 must have him killed?” Sittas asked.
“Take the gun away from him and place him under guard,” Vorgens ordered.