hen people came within close range or

in situations where they could not remain masked, Cadillac was relying

on Roz's magic to convince any Iron Masters they met en route that they

were aiding the return of their own kind. And that included their new

vassals, the Mute clans from the bloodline of the D'Troit.

Cadillac's plan of action was staggeringly ambitious.

On their arrival at Sara-kusa, his first objective was to re-establish

the trading links between the YamaShita and the Plainfolk, sweetening

the arrangement by offering - once again - the secrets of powered

flight and other aspects of Tracker technology he had acquired from

dipping into the minds of Steve, Malone and his renegades.

If the Yama-Shita family proved amenable, Cadillac intended to reveal

how Lord Yama-Shita had been betrayed and killed, and his family

humbled, by an unholy alliance between the Toh-Yota shogunate and the

Federation. Having already escaped from Ne-Issan with Steve,

Clearwater, Jodi and Kelso, Cadillac now knew enough about the cosy

relationship between AMEXICO and the spy network controlled by Ieyasu

the Shogun's uncle and principal advisor- to blow the Toh-Yota family

out of the water.

At the very least, this information would result in a messy civil war;

at best, the Progressive Party led by the Yama-Shita would sweep aside

the Toh-Yota and gain control of Ne-issan. With the country torn apart

by war, the Iron Masters would be unable to implement any policy they

might have for territorial expansion, and if the Progressives gained

power, the Amtrak Federation could not ignore the threat to its own

position. It would be compelled to intervene, diverting men and

resources away from their centuries-old conflict with the Mutes.

If Roz was able to keep them both alive long enough for him to lay this

information before the new leaders of the Yama-Shita, he had not the

slightest doubt that, in one short visit, he could destroy the status

quo and plunge the continent into a ferment of blood-letting from which

the Plainfolk would emerge victorious.

Cadillac outlined the broad aims of his plan to the assembled delegates

but did not go into details. The tangled web of plot and counter-plot

hatched by the opposing parties, and Ieyasu's treacherous use of the

Dark Light to suppress those who sought to resurrect it would only have

served to confuse his audience.

Persuaded by his eloquent presentation and the indisputable power of

his companion's magic, the delegates applauded the plan and wished them

both a safe and speedy return.

It only remained for the delegates to arrange a new date and meeting

place. There were many who supported a return to Du-Aruta. Cadillac

argued against this proposal.

If the Plainfolk were to deal with the Iron Masters on equal terms, the

trading post had to be located on ground of their choosing, beyond the

range of the wheel-boats' cannon and the threat of a surprise attack by

a waterborne army.

Never again, said Cadillac, must the Iron Masters vessels be allowed to

dominate the skyline and the proceedings. Sioux Falls - the place the

Mutes called Big White Running Water - was situated near the centre of

Plainfolk territory; the journey would not only be much shorter for all

concerned, the convergent movement towards it would also be a symbolic

coming together, as opposed to a long parallel pilgrimage to the shores

of the Great River.

From this day on, the Iron Masters would have to carry their goods

across a Plainfolk sea of red grass. And instead of the alien timbers

erected by the dead-faces, a new trading post- made up of elements

representing each of the bloodlines - should be planted in the

ground.

His words triggered a heated debate. When this showed no sign of

exhausting itself, Carnegie-Hall called for a vote.

It was close, but after a recount, Cadillac's challenging call for a

new start and a new tougher attitude carried the day.

To ensure the new composite post fitted together, the dimensions of