72

You hide behind rocks just as the first snake person could have spotted you. The ophidians drive beasts of burden—shaggy, scaly ox-like brutes, neither lizards nor mammals—past your hiding spot. Each mammal-lizard carries meat strapped to it. Some pieces of meat were obviously once people. Alexius turns more green than usual, then says, "We can't do this, Crowchar."

"We can," Therko says. "Look at their lazy and inattentive guards, their lack of a gate, even. A direct assault will break their nerve and send them scrambling."

"Agreed," Control says.

"Are you mad?" Alexius says. "We need to sneak in, there's no question."

"Why don't we ask them for the tabulation chart?" Vecla says.

"Everyone is mad but me," Alexius mutters. "Ask them!"

"I thought you were a great merchant," Vecla says. "Let's just buy it off them. Those are people in there, even if they're snake people. People want things."

"Negotiate and give away the element of surprise?" Control says. "No."

But she turns to you for a decision, as do the others.