There, massive brick buildings abutted directly against the outer wall. Above those buildings, resting on a stone platform reinforced with heavy timbers, Kujulo could see the fortress’ three great cannons.
Those buildings would be the quarters for the garrison. Already, Kujulo could see Malwa soldiers spilling out from the many doors set into the brickwork. The soldiers fumbled with spears and swords. Many of them were still putting on their armor. Flimsy, leather armor. Kujulo almost laughed, seeing one of the Malwa stumble and flop on his belly.
But Kujulo could see no grenades, and, what was better—
“Look at that, will you!” exclaimed one of his men. “They can’t have more than two hundred men guarding this place!”
Kujulo nodded. His squad member had immediately spotted the most important thing about the fortress. The first thing Kujulo himself had noticed.
No tents.
The flat, empty ground which formed most of the fortress’ interior should have been covered with tents. There was not enough room in the brick buildings for more than a small garrison. Kujulo thought his squad member’s estimate of two hundred was overgenerous. The garrison’s officers, for one thing, would have undoubtedly taken the largest rooms for themselves. For another, Kujulo could see no sign of any cookfires on the open ground. That meant a kitchen, taking up even more of the brick buildings’ space.
“A hundred and fifty, tops,” he pronounced. He studied the Malwa soldiers advancing toward them from the west—if the term “advancing” can be used to describe a mode of progress that was
Those buildings would be the quarters for the garrison. Already, Kujulo could see Malwa soldiers spilling out from the many doors set into the brickwork. The soldiers fumbled with spears and swords. Many of them were still putting on their armor. Flimsy, leather armor. Kujulo almost laughed, seeing one of the Malwa stumble and flop on his belly.
But Kujulo could see no grenades, and, what was better—
“Look at that, will you!” exclaimed one of his men. “They can’t have more than two hundred men guarding this place!”
Kujulo nodded. His squad member had immediately spotted the most important thing about the fortress. The first thing Kujulo himself had noticed.
No tents.
The flat, empty ground which formed most of the fortress’ interior should have been covered with tents. There was not enough room in the brick buildings for more than a small garrison. Kujulo thought his squad member’s estimate of two hundred was overgenerous. The garrison’s officers, for one thing, would have undoubtedly taken the largest rooms for themselves. For another, Kujulo could see no sign of any cookfires on the open ground. That meant a kitchen, taking up even more of the brick buildings’ space.
“A hundred and fifty, tops,” he pronounced. He studied the Malwa soldiers advancing toward them from the west—if the term “advancing” can be used to describe a mode of progress that was