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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] First ushered Hrrula with hasty ceremony to the door, offering his open hand to the scout, an unexpected civility from such an august personage. "There must be no violence on Rrala among our new friends, Hrrula," First said, his voice charged with excitement. "Do nothing rash but proceed." Hrrula found himself outside the suite, the Speaker's peculiar farewell ringing in his ears. "Do nothing rash but proceed?" Hrrula murmured. "Proceed-where?" "This film is proof," Hrrula heard Third's truculent voice down the corridor, "that all their fine talk is windblown. They do not respect each other. They will not respect us. They are landing ships in force on Rrala." Hrrula jumped for the transmitter pad, slapping at a random station to avoid being seen by Third. When he emerged at the Transmitter Base, deep below the sea, he was startled by that coincidence to his subconscious desire. Even as he cleared the pad and approached the floor officer, he knew where he was going. 'They are landing ships' -- Third had used the plural. He had to know if that second ship was Alreldep or Codep, and since Mrrim was on duty, Page 92 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html fortune was favoring him. Mrrim would know what to do. Chapter XXIV PROOF POSITIVE THERE HAD BEEN a guard stationed just off the path to the Reeves' cabin but Ken had had no trouble working his way around back. And no trouble removing the window frame from Todd's room. Fortunately, Pat had left the clean clothes in the washbasket in the hallway, so Ken had not had to risk entering his own bedroom in the front of the cabin. He was also able to sneak around the kitchen and get himself some ration packs. Thus, warmly dressed, with a blanket thrown over his shoulder and food in his pockets, he retreated the way he had come. If they searched the cabin again, they'd find his soaked clothes in a heap on Todd's floor. That would jar them. He worked his way cautiously through the woods; he wanted no encounter with roamal vines or ssersa bushes. There was a rough lean-to back in the woods where they'd been logging and that would give him a night's shelter. He was exhausted when he finally made his destination and was asleep as soon as he stretched out, rolled up in his blanket. The unmistakable thunder of rockets jerked him out of a deep sleep. He untangled himself quickly from the blanket, ripping it in an effort to get to his feet. The deep woods prevented a clear view of the sky and he charged recklessly toward the colony, desperately afraid he would see the exhaust flares of the Spacedep ship. He had almost argued himself into the specious logic that at least he would be here when Todd got back, when he reached a clearing and saw that a ship was descending to the landing field. He caught only a glimpse before the tree tops obscured it but he halted, sagging wearily against the nearest trunk until his heart stopped forcing adrenaline through his trembling body. As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter if the ship was from Codep or Alreldep. Either would disrupt Landreau's nasty little plans for the colonists. He opened a package of rations and broke the heat seal, gulping down the metallic-tasting coffee, munching the nutritional wafers, oblivious to their cardboard taste. Once again in command of his energies and emotions, Ken carefully worked his way thru the woods to the colony. He had to get within sight of the field and the Common and figure out what was happening. Ken finally positioned himself behind a thicket on the edge of the Common, in full sight of the mess hall and the landing field. The Codep blazon was plainly visible on the second ship, a comfortingly smaller craft than the Spacedep one; it was not an obvious transport vessel. He could smell breakfast being prepared, but the presence of guards, wearing both Spacedep blue and Codep green, was not the least bit reassuring. He could only wait, hunched up under the thickly crossed branches, passive when his nerves strained for action. Suddenly the main door flung open and guards marched smartly down the steps, followed by Hu Shih, Phyllis and his two children. Hu Shih's profile was set his chin high, his shoulders back, but the children were weeping. All Ken's half-allayed fears returned forcefully and, regardless of exposure, he jumped up. Lee Lawrence, one arm around Sally, came next, turning his head to look searchingly around the Common. Ken could see the sociologist start with surprise as he caught sight of Reeve. Lawrence gestured to him to take cover, then immediately jerked his head around. but one of the guards had noticed his action and whirled toward Ken's position. "'There he is," he gave the alarm. Ken took to his heels, knowing what he had to do now. Once they had seen him, they would delay until they caught him. So he made a plain dash up the river Page 93 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html bank, crouching when he broke into the open because someone was already firing lasers above his head. He took Todd's route to the village, along the river bank, leaping underbrush and fallen logs, and digging his heels into the mulch when he hit the deeper forest. He had reached the clearing where Hrrula had killed the mda when he heard an ear-piercing whine and saw the misty cloud appear in the center of the village site. The mist dissipated and Hrulla appeared, clad in an ankle-length pale red robe, with jewel-studded harness at waist and across his chest, and highly polished black boots. "I've only a moment, Rrev. Delay, but with no violence. Delay as long as you can." "Delay?" panted Reeve, trying to regain his breath. "How? Why?" "Our ruling Council must be unanimous and there are two rabid xenophobes in high position with much influence. Our First Speaker has some plan to force their cooperation but it will take time." "Time, Hrrula, is the one thing I haven't got. Listen!" Ken pointed back the way he had come; the shots and shouts of his pursuers were clearly audible. "Stay, Hrrula. Prove to Spacedep and Codep that there are Hrrubans and we'll have all the time we need." A mist was already surrounding Hrrula. Startled, the catman glanced wildly around as if this phenomenon were premature. "Something's gone wrong. I'm being drawn back. Under the mess hall tables, Rrev, and up over Hu's -- " the last word was a bare whisper from the depths of the mist. Christ, what's under the tables? Up over whose? Ken wondered frantically as he took off, up the clearing, kicking up mulch to show his passing. The first dip he crossed he scuffed up badly, then he cut suddenly to his left executing a wild jump over a thicket. He ran more carefully now, on his toes, although his leg muscles ached with the unaccustomed strain. As he doubled back, he couldn't resist chuckling as his pursuers went tearing on past the dip. With luck he could make it back to the Common before they realized they were following a dead trail. 'No violence,' huh? That was asking a lot of him -- with no hope held out at [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |