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　the　citizens　of　Podujevo；　always　planning　for　the　next　contest　and　improving　on　the　designs；　her　energies　spent　on　making　the　next　creation　more　ambitious　and　more　life…like　than　the　last。
　　Now　she　was　dead；　and　sorely　missed。　There　was　no　disorganization　in　the　streets　without　her；　the　people　were　far　too　disciplined　for　that；　but　they　were　already　falling　behind　schedule；　and　it　was　almost　seven…twenty…five。　Nita's　daughter　had　taken　over　in　her　mother's　stead；　but　she　lacked　Nita's　power　to　galvanize　the　people　into　action。　She　was；　in　a　word；　too　gentle　for　the　job　in　hand。　It　required　a　leader　who　was　part　prophet　and　part　ringmaster；　to　coax　and　bully　and　inspire　the　citizens　into　their　places。　Maybe；　after　two　or　three　decades；　and　with　a　few　more　contests　under　her　belt；　Nita　Obrenovic's　daughter　would　make　the　grade。　But　for　today　Podujevo　was　behindhand；　safety…checks　were　being　overlooked；　nervous　looks　replaced　the　confidence　of　earlier　years。
　　Nevertheless；　at　six　minutes　before　eight　the　first　limb　of　Podujevo　made　its　way　out　of　the　city　to　the　assembly　point；　to　wait　for　its　fellow。
　　By　that　time　the　flanks　were　already　lashed　together　in　Popolac；　and　armed　contingents　were　awaiting　orders　in　the　Town　Square。
　　
　　Mick　woke　promptly　at　seven；　though　there　was　no　alarm　clock　in　their　simply　furnished　room　at　the　Hotel　Beograd。　He　lay　in　his　bed　and　listened　to　Judd's　regular　breathing　from　the　twin　bed　across　the　room。　A　dull　morning　light　whimpered　through　the　thin　curtains；　not　encouraging　an　early　departure。　After　a　few　minutes〃　staring　at　the　cracked　paintwork　on　the　ceiling；　and　a　while　longer　at　the　crudely　carved　crucifix　on　the　opposite　wall；　Mick　got　up　and　went　to　the　window。　It　was　a　dull　day；　as　he　had　guessed。　The　sky　was　overcast；　and　the　roofs　of　Novi　Pazar　were　grey　and　featureless　in　the　flat　morning　light。　But　beyond　the　roofs；　to　the　east；　he　could　see　the　hills。　There　was　sun　there。　He　could　see　shafts　of　light　catching　the　blue…green　of　the　forest；　inviting　a　visit　to　their　slopes。
　　Today　maybe　they　would　go　south　to　Kosovska　Mitrovica。　There　was　a　market　there；　wasn't　there；　and　a　museum？　And　they　could　drive　down　the　valley　of　the　Ibar；　following　the　road　beside　the　river；　where　the　hills　rose　wild　and　shining　on　either　side。　The　hills；　yes；　today　he　decided　they　would　see　the　hills。
　　It　was　eight…fifteen。
　　
　　By　nine　the　main　bodies　of　Popolac　and　Podujevo　were　substantially　assembled。　In　their　allotted　districts　the　limbs　of　both　cities　were　ready　and　waiting　to　join　their　expectant　torsos。
　　Vaslav　Jelovsek　capped　his　gloved　hands　over　his　eyes　and　surveyed　the　sky。　The　cloud…base　had　risen　in　the　last　hour；　no　doubt　of　it；　and　there　were　breaks　in　the　clouds　to　the　west；　even；　on　occasion；　a　few　glimpses　of　the　sun。　It　wouldn't　be　a　perfect　day　for　the　contest　perhaps；　but　certainly　adequate。
　　
　　Mick　and　Judd　breakfasted　late　on　hemendeks…roughly　translated　as　ham　and　eggs…and　several　cups　of　good　black　coffee。　It　was　brightening　up；　even　in　Novi　Pazar；　and　their　ambitions　were　set　high。　Kosovska　Mitrovica　by　lunchtime；　and　maybe　a　visit　to　the　hill…castle　of　Zvecan　in　the　afternoon。
　　About　nine…thirty　they　motored　out　of　Novi　Pazar　and　took　the　Srbovac　road　south　to　the　Ibar　valley。　Not　a　good　road；　but　the　bumps　and　pot…holes　couldn't　spoil　the　new　day。
　　The　road　was　empty；　except　for　the　occasional　pedestrian；　and　in　place　of　the　maize　and　corn　fields　they'd　passed　on　the　previous　day　the　road　was　flanked　by　undulating　hills；　whose　sides　were　thickly　and　darkly　forested。　Apart　from　a　few　birds；　they　saw　no　wildlife。　Even　their　infrequent　travelling　panions　petered　out　altogether　after　a　few　miles；　and　the　occasional　farmhouse　they　drove　by　appeared　locked　and　shuttered　up。　Black　pigs　ran　unattended　in　the　yard；　with　no　child　to　feed　them。　Washing　snapped　and　billowed　on　a　sagging　line；　with　no　washerwoman　in　sight。
　　At　first　this　solitary　journey　through　the　hills　was　refreshing　in　its　lack　of　human　contact；　but　as　the　morning　drew　on；　an　uneasiness　grew　on　them。
　　〃Shouldn't　we　have　seen　a　signpost　to　Mitrovica；　Mick？〃　He　peered　at　the　map。
　　〃Maybe。　。　。〃
　　〃…we've　taken　the　wrong　road。〃
　　〃If　there'd　been　a　sign；　I'd　have　seen　it。　I　think　we　should　try　and　get　off　this　road；　bear　south　a　bit　more…meet　the　valley　closer　to　Mitrovica　than　we'd　planned。〃
　　〃How　do　we　get　off　this　bloody　road？〃
　　〃There've　been　a　couple　of　turnings。　。　。〃
　　〃Dirt…tracks。〃
　　〃Well　it's　either　that　or　going　on　the　way　we　are。〃　Judd　pursed　his　lips。
　　〃Cigarette？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Finished　them　miles　back。〃　In　front　of　them；　the　hills　formed　an　impenetrable　line。　There　was　no　sign　of　life　ahead；　no　frail　wisp　of　chimney　smoke；　no　sound　of　voice　or　vehicle。
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Judd；　〃we　take　the　next　turning。　Anything's　better　than　this。〃　They　drove　on。　The　road　was　deteriorating　rapidly；　the　pot…holes　being　craters；　the　hummocks　feeling　like　bodies　beneath　the　wheels。
　　Then：　〃There！〃　A　turning：　a　palpable　turning。　Not　a　major　road；　certainly。　In　fact　barely　the　dirt…track　Judd　had　described　the　other　roads　as　being；　but　it　was　an　escape　from　the　endless　perspective　of　the　road　they　were　trapped　on。
　　〃This　is　being　a　bloody　safari；〃　said　Judd　as　the　VW　began　to　bump　and　grind　its　way　along　the　doleful　little　track。
　　〃Where's　your　sense　of　adventure？〃
　　〃I　forgot　to　pack　it。〃　They　were　beginning　to　climb　now；　as　the　track　wound　its　way　up　into　the　hills。　The　forest　closed　over　them；　blotting　out　the　sky；　so　a　shifting　patchwork　of　light　and　shadow　scooted　over　the　bonnet　as　they　drove。　There　was　birdsong　suddenly；　vacuous　and　optimistic；　and　a　smell　of　new　pine　and　undug　earth。　A　fox　crossed　the　track；　up　ahead；　and　watched　a　long　moment　as　the　car　grumbled　up　towards　it。　Then；　with　the　leisurely　stride　of　a　fearless　prince；　it　sauntered　away　into　the　trees。
　　Wherever　they　were　going；　Mick　thought；　this　was　better　than　the　road　they'd　left。　Soon　maybe　they'd　stop；　and　walk　a　while；　to　find　a　promontory　from　which　they　could　see　the　valley；　even　Novi　Pazar；　nestled　behind　them。
　　
　　The　two　men　were　still　an　hour's　drive　from　Popolac　when　the　head　of　the　contingent　at　last　marched　out　of　the　Town　Square　and　took　up　its　position　with　the　main　body。
　　This　last　exit　left　the　city　pletely　deserted。　Not　even　the　sick　or　the　old　were　neglected　on　this　day；　no…one　was　to　be　denied　the　spectacle　and　the　triumph　of　the　contest。　Every　single　citizen；　however　young　or　infirm；　the　blind；　the　crippled；　babes　in　arms；　pregnant　women…all　made　their　way　up　from　their　proud　city　to　the　stamping　ground。　It　was　the　law　that　they　should　attend：　but　it　needed　no　enforcing。　No　citizen　of　either　city　would　have　missed　the　chance　to　see　that　sight…to　experience　the　thrill　of　that　contest。
　　The　confrontation　had　to　be　total；　city　against　city。　This　was　the　way　it　had　always　been。
　　So　the　cities　went　up　into　the　hills。　By　noon　they　were　gathered；　the　citizens　of　Popolac　and　Podujevo；　in　the　secret　well　of　the　hills；　hidden　from　civilized　eyes；　to　do　ancient　and　ceremonial　battle。
　　Tens　of　thousands　of　hearts　beat　faster。　Tens　of　thousands　of　bodies　stretched　and　strained　and　sweated　as　the　twin　cities　took　their　positions。　The　shadows　of　the　bodies　darkened　tracts　of　land　the　size　of　small　towns；　the　weight　of　their　feet　trampled　the　grass　to　a　green　milk；　their　movement　killed　animals；　crushed　bushes　and　threw　down　trees。　The　earth　literally　reverberated　with　their　passage；　the　hills　echoing　with　the　booming　din　of　their　steps。
　　In　the　towering　body　of　Podujevo；　a　few　technical　hitches　were　being　apparent。　A　slight　flaw　in　the　knitting　of　the　left　flank　had　resulted　in　a　weakness　there：　and　there　were　consequent　problems　in　the　swivelling　mechanism　of　the　hips。　It　was　stiffer　than　it　should　be；　and　the　movements　were　not　smooth。　As　a　result　there　was　considerable　strain　being　put　upon　that　region　of　the　city。　It　was　being　dealt　with　bravely；　after　all；　the　contest　was　intended　to　press　the　contestants　to　their　limits。　But　breaking　point　was　closer　than　anyone　would　have　dared　to　admit。　The　citizens　were　not　as　resilient　as　they　had　been　in　previous　contests。　A　bad　decade　for　crops　had　produced　bodies　less　well…nourished；　spines　less　supple；　wills　less　resolute。　The　badly　knitted　flank　might　not　have　caused　an　accident　in　itself；　but　further　weakened　by　the　frailty　of　the　petitors　it　set　a　scene　for　death　on　an　unprecedented　scale。
　　
　　They　stopped　the　car。
　　〃Hear　that？〃　Mick　shook　his　head。　His　hearing　hadn't　been　good　since　he　was　an　adolescent。　Too　many　rock　shows　had　blown　his　eardrums　to　hell。
　　Judd　got　out　of　the　car。
　　The　birds　were　quieter　now。　The　noise　he'd　heard　as　they　drove　came　again。　It　wasn't　simply　a　noise：　it　was　almost　a　motion　in　the　earth；　a　roar　that　seemed　seated　in　the　substance　of　the　hills。
　　Thunder；　was　it？
　　No；　too　rhythmical。　It　came　again；　through　the　soles　of　the　feet…Boom。
　　Mick　heard　it　this　time。　He　leaned　out　of　the　car　window。
　　〃It's　up　ahead　somewhere。　I　hear　it　now。〃　Judd　nodded。
　　Boom。
　　The　earth…thunder　sounded　again。　〃What　the　hell　is　it？〃　said　Mick。　〃Whatever　it　is；　I　want　to　see　it…；　Judd　got　back　into　the　Volkswagen；　smiling。
　　〃Sounds　almost　like　guns；〃　he　said；　starting　the　car。　〃Big　guns。〃
　　
　　Through　his　Russian…made　binoculars　Vaslav　Jelovsek　watched　the　starting…official　raise　his　pistol。　He　saw　the　feather　of　white　smoke　rise　from　the　barrel；　and　a　second　later　heard　the　sound　of　the　shot　across　the　valley。
　　The　contest　had　begun。
　　He　looked　up　at　twin　towers　of　Popolac　and　Podujevo。　Heads　in　the　clouds…well　almost。　They　practically　stretched　to　touch　the　sky。　It　was　an　awesome　sight；　a　breath…stopping；　sleep…stabbing　sight。　Two　cities　swaying　and　writhing　and　preparing　to　take　their　first　steps　towards　each　other　in　this　ritual　battle。
　　Of　the　two；　Podujevo　seemed　the　less　stable。　There　was　a　slight　hesitation　as　the　city　raised　its　left　leg　to　begin　its　march。　Nothing　serious；　just　a　little　difficulty　in　co…ordinating　hip　and　thigh　muscles。　A　couple　of　steps　and　the　city　would　find　its　rhythm；　a　couple　more　and　its　inhabitants　would　be　moving　as　one　creature；　one　perfect　giant　set　to　match　its　grace　and　power　against　its　mirror…image。
　　The　gunshot　had　sent　flurries　of　birds　up　from　the　trees　that　banked　the　hidden　valley。　They　rose　up　in　celebration　of　the　great　contest；　chattering　their　excitement　as　they　swooped　over　the　stamping…ground。
　　
　　〃Did　you　hear　a　shot？〃　asked　Judd。
　　Mick　nodded。
　　〃Military　exercises　。　。　。？〃　Judd's　smile　had　broadened。　He　could　see　the　headlines　already…exclusive　reports　of　secret　manoeuvres　in　the　depths　of　the　Yugoslavian　countryside。　Russian　tanks　perhaps；　tactical　exercises　being　held　out　of　the　West's　prying　sight。　With　luck；　he　would　be　the　carrier　of　this　news。
　　Boom。
　　Boom。
　　There　were　birds　in　the　air。　The　thunder　was　louder　now。
　　It　did　sound　like　guns。
　　〃It's　over　the　next　ridge　。　。　。〃　said　Judd。
　　〃I　don't　think　we　should　go　any　further。〃
　　〃I　have　to　see。〃
　　〃I　don't。　We're　not　supposed　to　be　here。〃
　　〃I　don't　see　any