“Watchers! Grasp hands!” commanded Vafi.
“Flohad! Your hand!” said Menegal, groping to the right.
“Here it is, Menegal,” said Flohad, putting forth his hand into Menegal’s unseen one.
“I cannot see you, Wixtil. Where is your hand?” cried Luvilia, fumbling out to the left.
“Right here and would stop shouting in my ear?” said Wixtil, putting his hand in Luvilia’s.
“Watchmen grouped?” yelled out Vafi.
“Yea!” cried all the watchmen.
“Renew watch!” shouted Vafi.
“ Now we may as well talk since we will be like this awhile,” said Dislin.
“Yes, if those Persians kindly would not interrupt our conversation,” said Havam, grunting.
“Hold on to one another’s spears!” cried Vafi.
“Where is your spear Flohad?” said Menegal, feeling around blindly in the fog.
“Right here Menegal,” said Flohad, reaching for Menegal’s hand and putting it on his spear next to his.
Soon all the men were linked so as not to lose one another in the fog.
“Havam, do you see anything on your end?” cried Dislin.
“Nay! Do you?” answered Havam.
“Just fog here!” said Dislin.
“Just perfect weather for an attack,” said Luvilia. “I should not wonder if there was one.”
“We did not practice to fight blindfolded, Luvilia,” said Menegal.
“Nay, but you will have as much practice as I or anyone else,” replied Luvilia.
“Just as long as you do not go about prodding your friend and not your enemy,” said Wixtil.
Havam was silent throughout the conversation and was using his ears. A rock just then fell and he heard footsteps hastening toward the north.
“Hush!” Havam said, a little louder than the other voices. “I thought I heard footsteps.”
The others were then quiet and listened.
“Havam, where did you hear the footsteps leading?” whispered Flohad.
“Toward the north,” answered Havam.
“I do not hear anything now. He must have quieted his pace,” said Menegal.
“Where is Vafi? He must be coming soon to gather the latest report for Leonidas,” said Dislin, straining his eyes through the fog.
“He might be delayed by the weather,” said Luvilia.
“Or by unexpected orders,” said Wixtil.
“If those footsteps were the enemy’s, we cannot go after them without orders or better visibility,” said Havam.
“Watchers report!” yelled Vafi. “Dislin!”
“No report!” cried Dislin.
“Wixtil!”
“No report!”
“Luvilia!”
“No report!”
“Menegal!”
“No report!”
“Flohad!”
“No report!”
“Havam!” yelled Vafi, when he came to the end of the line.
“I heard footsteps to the north,” said Havam, quietly.
“What’s that?” said Vafi.
“Footsteps to the north!” said Havam, louder.
“Come with me Havam,” said Vafi, signaling Havam to walk behind him with his hand in his.
“Vafi should not be shouting or it will tell the Persians where we are,” said Menegal.
“It will not matter. The Persians probably already know,” said Luvilia.
“I hope Havam comes back soon. This fog and emptiness on my right side is unbearable,” said Flohad, nervously.