eavy blows of the dagger that most armor

could　not　have　withstood。　He　turned　to　Black；　who　believed　what　I　told　them；

and　screamed　at　him　childishly。　I　came　up　from　behind；　put　my　armor…plated

arm　around　Butterfly’s　neck　and　drew　him　toward　me。　Bending　his　other　arm

back with my free hand； I made him drop the dagger。 We weren’t quite

struggling； nor were we entirely playing。 I recounted a similar； little…known

scene　in　the　Book　of　Kings。

“On　the　third　day　of　a　confrontation　between　Persian　and　Turanian　armies

fully equipped in armor and weaponry and arrayed at the foot of Mount

Hamaran； the Turanians sent the wily Shengil into the field to learn the

identity　of　a　mysterious　Persian　who’d　killed　a　great　Turanian　warrior　on　each

of　the　previous　two　days；”　I　began。　“Shengil　challenged　the　mysterious　warrior；

403

and　he　accepted。　The　armies；　their　armor　glimmering　brightly　in　the　afternoon

sun； watched with bated breath。 The armored horses of the two warriors

engaged　each　other　with　such　speed　that　sparks　flying　from　the　clash　of　metal

singed　the　hides　of　the　horses　which　gave　off　smoke。　The　fight　was　a　lengthy

one。 The Turanian shot arrows； the Persian maneuvered his sword and horse

skillfully；　and　finally；　the　mysterious　Persian　felled　the　Turanian　after　catching

him　by　the　tail　of　his　steed。　He　then　chased　after　Shengil　who　was　trying　to

escape；　and　grabbed　him　by　his　armor　from　behind　before　taking　him　by　the

neck。　As　he　accepted　his　defeat；　the　Turanian；　still　curious　about　the　identity　of

the　mysterious　warrior；　asked　without　hope　what　everyb