de across the wavering circle of firelight and planted himself

in front of where Steve sat in the fourth row.

Motor-Head flung out his right arm, pointing the hammer at Steve. 'Now

brothers, what shall be done with this carrion crow?!" Steve could

feel everyone's eyes upon him. BlackTop and Steel-Eye moved through

the crowd and stood behind him. Oh boy, thought Steve dreamily. This

looks like big trouble. Keep cool. Let Mr Snow handle it...

Motor-Head appealed to the assembled clan. 'Did not this crow, before

its wings were broken, destroy our cropfields and kill our cubs? Why

is this carrion allowed to live in our midst? He takes the food from

our mouths yet is allowed to fill his own. This wingless worm has no

standing.

I say he should taste the fire he let fall on others -' 'Heyy-yahh...

I' The response came as an angry growl.

Not everybody answered but it was clear a sizeable number greed with

Motor-Head's proposition.

Black-Top and Steel-Eye grabbed Steve by the arms and hauled him to

his feet. His head woozy from the Dream Cap, Steve struggled drunkenly

in their grip. 'Hey, come on, you guys, what is this?!" Mr Snow took

a step forward. Like Motor-Head, his speech was slurred and wooden

because of the fresh wounds in his cheeks. 'Free him! He has

standing. The Sky Voices spoke to me of this cloud warrior. The

shadow of Talisman is upon him!" Black-Top and Steel-Eye began to

release their grip on Steve. Motor-Head stopped them with an imperious

gesture. 'The shadow of Talisman does not fall on the unworthy."

Motor-Head turned to the clan for support.

'Does a warrior lay waste to the fruits of the earth? This carrion

kills those that have not chewed bone yet when Cadillac brought him

tumbling from the sky he begged to be saved from death -' 'Shee-ehhh

..." hissed the clan.

Motor-Head flung an accusing finger at Cadillac. 'Is that not so,

wordsmith?"

Cadillac hesitated, looked at Steve, then nodded gravely.

'My brother speaks the truth."

Oh, terrific, thought Steve. Thanks a bunch...

Black-Top and Steel-Eye dragged Steve out in front of the clan, twisted

his arms behind his back and forced him to his knees. Out of the

corner of his eye, Steve saw Motor-Head heft the big stone hammer. His

brain was fast losing its capacity to react. I don't believe this, he

thought. He let his head hang down limply and slowly realised that it

was becoming weightless.

Mr Snow held up his hands. 'Stay! His life was spared because

Talisman willed it!" Motor-Head paused with the hammer resting on his

right shoulder. 'I too have dreamed dreams, Old One." He pointed down

at Steve. 'This is the Death-Bringer. If it is Talisman's will that

he treads the earth, let him take the spirit from this crow and put it

in a braver body!" He gripped the gnarled shaft tightly and swung the

hammer back over his head. As it arced forwards on the killing stroke

the stone head exploded with a terrifying boom. It was as if the

hammer had collided head on with an invisible bolt of lightning. The

mysterious force that struck the hammer . lifted Motor-Head off his

feet and hurled him backwards.

Mr Snow, Cadillac, Black-Top and Steel-Eye reeled away, trying vainly

to shield their faces from the shower of sharp splinters. Steve hit

the ground nose first. By some metaphysical quirk, most of the

splinters were seen to follow the line of the explosion, going behind

Motor-Head and upwards at an angle. Shocked and momentarily deafened

but otherwise uninjured, they were helped up by the nearest of the

startled spectators.

Mr Snow walked over to where Motor-Head lay on his back, dazed and

winded. 'Perhaps that will teach you not to speak out of turn. You're

lucky that didn't blow your head off." Motor-Head sat up groggily. Mr

Snow turned away to check that Steve was all right, then addressed the

gathering.

'There! You have seen for yourselves how Talisman protects those who

walk in his shadow!" 'Heyyy-yahhh,' murmured the awed clan.

Motor-Head leapt to his feet, his composure regained, and strode

forward. Cadillac tried to hold him back but was brushed aside.

'Brothers and sisters I Like you, I bow to the Will of Talisman, but I

still say this crow is unworthy to eat and drink and live as one of

us.

If he draws his strength from Talisman, let him prove he is a

warrior!