A little over twenty minutes before Pan Long and the others heard the explosions, more than two hundred vehicles from Zion blocked the Slavic army's path.
Their minds made up, they showed no fear. They parked their vehicles sideways, layer upon layer, until the convoy formed a thick wall of metal.
More than two hundred vehicles stretched across the road, creating a defensive line. For all its accustomed might, the Slavic army did not dare charge it lightly and could only come to a halt.
Once both sides had stopped, Doctor stepped out of his vehicle. Protected by several heavily armored operatives, he carried a megaphone to the front of the line and faced the Slavic army, whose ranks stretched beyond sight.
"I'm a representative of Zion. Send someone over who can speak for you!" he said into the megaphone without a trace of courtesy. "Don't send some stray cat or dog and waste everyone's time."
A dignified voice soon came from the Slavic ranks. "There is nothing to discuss between Roman citizens and sinners."
Doctor laughed. "Rome? Have you occupied Rome, or have you occupied New Rome? Citizens? Since when did Slavia have a class called 'citizens'? Don't you have only slave owners and slaves?"
Anger filled the voice from the Slavic army. "Sinner! Are you trying to provoke us so you can die sooner?"
"No. Quite the opposite. I came for peace."
"Peace? The only peace in this world comes when sinners face judgment and punishment." The Slavic general speaking sounded pleased with himself.
Doctor smiled. "Not necessarily. If neither side can do a thing to the other and we just stand here glaring at each other, that counts as peace too."
The Slavic general burst out laughing. "What an amusing thought! What makes a pitiful band of