The Fall of the City

These were round by humbler dwellings made from matchboxes and the covers of fare books. The streets and t show up ensembleeys were liberal of nobles, peasants and soldiers, their two- dimensional bodies scissors from idea, theirs faces and clo social function worn in crayon and lead pencil. From the turreted detonating device of the palace, hung a green, clear and gold atrocious, the sag set bring down of the Kingdom of Pauli Somber gray nerve glinted in teddys pale, triangular face. He shoved his men deeper in the pockets of his worn khaki shorts. He decided that what he comprehend was non the rattle of rain on the jacket crown and windowpane, but the muffled roar of upstage carom.The armies of the Emperor Gang of Donovan were attac queen regnant the fortifications on the Upland frontier slip inhaled deep and held his breath, his thin chest pressing a brightenst his pass shirt. His Majesty King Theodore l, resplendent In the red and black uniform of a generalissim o, emerged on the balcony of his winter palace In thoroughbred, capital of the Kingdom of Pauli. Through the shape below rode squadrons of lancers, dragoons and hussars, batteries of horse artillery female genitals them treated regiments of infantry. Grasping the diamond-studded hilt of his sword. King Theodore watched his army march out to give battle to the enemy.This would be the third war surrounded by Donovan and Pauli. The stolon had been fought in the year 2032 and had ended in the defeat of the Emperor Gang and his impoundment on the Isle of Hawks. But he had escaped done the treachery of Kill, Duke of Enders, a general In the upland army, and In 2043 the Donovan had invaded Pauli a second judgment of conviction, aided by the renegade force under the dictation of Kill. This time, they conquered Thoroughbred and massacred the populace in advance beingness routed by King Theodore. On the twenty-four hours of victory, the Duke of Enders was roughs to Thoroughbred i n chains and hanged in the city square.The Emperor Gang was as evil and cunning as the If mash approximately whom shift had claim in books. Tow, astride a black war-horse, he directed his troops as they hem in For Lion on the Ocarina River. dispiritedly outnumbered, the defenders rallied behind their com earthly concernder, Duke Lanai of Carla, and prayed for the coming of King Theodore . . . moorage FIFO He opened the door. demeanor? he called sulkily. Come down present this minute and bum around ready for supper How bity a(prenominal) times do I fool to call you? Okay, okay, Im coming -?And be quick slightly it Im coming, I told huh She stood in the hall, a tall, round-shouldered woman with tired, suspicious eyes. Seems to me that youre spending a lot of time in that pigeon loft. She wiped red, vain hands on her apron. Mimi been into some maleficence up in that location? He shrugged impatiently. I anti been doing nothing -? Just playing, he told her sull enly. Well, youth man, you better wipe that scowl take out your face and march to the bath way of life and stimulate ready for supper. miss, maam, he enunciated carefully. During supper, he was scarcely aware of what he ate he was so deep in have in minding hat his pork chop smelld no different from his whipped cream and Jell.Mechanically, he obeyed his aunty when she told him to take smaller bites and to take his elbows take the t qualified. He was pondering on the evasive action that would have to be used by King Theodore in relieving the siege of the fort by the river. If the Upland army cut through the Tableland marshes, they might succeed in encircling the Donovan, but there was the jeopardy that their cannon would founder in the morass. On the other hand, if they scaled the Theodore mountains Look what youre doing, for heavens interestingness His aunt glared at him. Dont say huh when you practise me. Look what youve doneYouve spilled cream all over yourself. Blushing, he rubbed at his elbow grease shirt with a account napkin. Hes got his strait in the c alouds again. His uncle laughed mirthlessly. Half the time, he doesnt have it away whether hes living on earth or on Mars. Out of the corner of his eye, Teddy looked at his uncles round, florid face and reflected on the resemblance to Kill, Duke of Enders. Well, hed better smarten up if he knows whats good for him, his aunt grated. If he doesnt, I know something that will smarten him, his uncle said. He laughed gain and reached for another helping of potatoes.Behind him, cloudy white marbles of rain slid down the window. Suddenly, a cold shiver ran down Teddys spine. What if the Donovan attacked Thoroughbred while the king and his army were in the mountains? Old Gang was cunning as a serpent. If .. He spent most of the afternoon in the attic, his aunt said. His uncle gave him a disdainful look. He Just about lives up there, doesnt he? miss. I think its about time that one of us wen t up there and found out what hes been doing. No Teddy cried sharply. His uncle laid down his knife and fork. Look here mister, I dont like your tone of congresswoman.Have you been up to some of your monkey-shines up there? Mimi better not be, not if you want to be able to sit down the rest of the week. The man resumed eating. After supper, Ill take a look and see Just what you have been doing, he said. As his aunt gathered up the dishes, his uncle went into the living room and sat down in his easy c hair to read his newspaper. Teddy sat by the window and looked out at the rain. The sodden lead astray of the lawn had turned a darker green and foaming rivers of rain piddle ran down the street. He close up his eyes. Here in the kitchen, he loud not hear the strumming of the rain on the roof.There was no rumble of Donovan cannon. He frowned and rest his chin in an upturned palm. Anyhow, the cannon were only playthings scraps of card shape up held unneurotic with cellophane tape . What did it matter if his uncle saw them, or veri evade(a) destroyed them? But it did matter. Thoroughbred had been suppuration for a year and , often, it seemed more touchable that the town, the street and the home in which he lived with his uncle and aunt. Muffed better get at your homework. You wont get it done by sitting there mooning out the window, his aunt told him. Mien. He fetched exercise books and spread them on the table.His aunt and uncle did not mean to be cruel, he knew. From time to time, by their acts and words, they showed that they were fond of him. Twice that summer, his uncle had interpreted him trout fishing and on both cause there had been something subtly warm between them. And sometimes he detected a hint of affection in his aunts region even as she nagged him. But . His uncle stood in the doorway between kitchen and living room, his shoulders frisson with laughter. Muffed neer guess what that kid has been doing up there He shook his organize in ender and amusement. Teddy flushed and stiffened.His aunt turned from the sink where she was drying the last of the supper dishes. Whats he been up to, now? mound never believe it, but that great adult lummox has been playing with paper dolls news report dolls his aunt laughed dubiously. They anti paper dolls, Teddy mumbled. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood up. They looked pretty much like paper dolls to me. Paper dolls and doll houses. And eleven-year-old boy The man choked, trying to restrain his laughter. The next thing we know, youll be wanting us to mold skirts on you l never heard of such a thing.Paper dolls They anti dolls, I told you Teddys fists were clenched, his arms stiff by his sides, his voice shaking. His uncle pointed a warning finger. Dont get novel now, mister. I know paper dolls when I see me. Once again he burst into laughter. His cheeks were the color of a tomato. present down and finish your homework, Teddy, his aunt said. To his s urprise, her voice was not harsh it contained a confidential information of weary sympathy. He resumed his returned to the living room and picked up his newspaper. Paper dolls His uncle had said that he should be dressed in skirts and hair boons.And he could never explain they would never let him explain. Theodore, King of Pauli, and all his armies -? paper dolls He slumped, doodling on the paper before him so that his aunt would think he was working. Yes, they were paper dolls. There was no king Theodore, no Emperor Gang, no Thoroughbred, no Pauli, no Donovan. There was only an attic full of preposterous cardboard buildings and blotto paper people. It was still daylight when he finished his homework. The rain had stopped, but water still poured from the elms along the street.When Teddy went through the paving room, his uncle did not speak, but he glanced up from his newspaper and grinned slyly. The boy was flush to the roots of this hair as he opened the hall door and started up the stairs. The city was as he had left wing it. Yet everything had changed. Always before when he had come here, his flesh had tingled, his eyes had shone with excitement. straight off there was only a taste like that of a spoilt nutmeat. He bent and seized the cardboard palace. Gritting his teeth and grunting, he tore at its walls. The corrugated board was sturdy he was crying by the time he finished rough it to shreds.