Part 14 (1/2)

”Shake on ... it?” Vernon studied Collins' fingers dubiously.

Collins took Vernon's enormous paw of a hand into his own, flicked it vigorously, then released it. He wiped his palm on his britches, and Vernon did the same.

”Done?” the larger man asked.

”Done,” Collins agreed.

Vernon muttered something of which the stone translated only, ”Weird.”

Unable to miss the irony, Collins hid a smile.

Chapter 10.

ZYLAS and Collins set off immediately, with the sun still high in the sky. They rode Falima, and Collins caught occasional glimpses of Ialin zipping to Zylas and hovering near his ear. The hummingbird always gave Collins a wide berth, which pleased him as well. The wind carried streamers of Zylas'

unnaturally white hair into Collins' face at intervals so irregular he forgot to protect against it. Accustomed to wearing gla.s.ses, he rarely reacted in time to rescue his eyes, and the strands whipped across them, stinging, until he wondered if he had permanent red lines across the whites. Adding a buzzing, insect-like bird to the aggravation might have driven him over the edge, from sullen irritation to rage.

Zylas carried the translation stone again, which seemed to make no difference as his other two companions would remain in their animal forms for about five more hours and the rat/ man had settled into a nearly unbreakable silence. He led them on a circuitous route that confused Collins utterly. At times, he thought he recognized landmarks they had pa.s.sed a half hour earlier. They might be traveling in an endless loop for all he knew, and he could not help recalling the Winnie-the-Pooh tale in which the silly old bear and his friend, Piglet, track themselves in a circle, worried that, at each pa.s.s, another two creatures have joined the ones they were following. Despite the warmth and humor of this childhood remembrance, Collins found his discomfort growing.

The weather seemed h.e.l.l-bent on displaying all the happy grandeur Collins' mood lacked. The sun beamed through the trees in golden bands. A breeze danced around the trunks, keeping the temperature hovering at what felt like a comfortable seventy degrees. Crystal-blue sky stretched from horizon to horizon, dotted with a few fluffy clouds that gleamed whitely in the broad expanse of azure.

The ground grew rockier. Falima stumbled. Abruptly jarred sideways, Collins found himself on the ground before he realized he was falling. Pain shot through his left shoulder. Dull aching pounded through his thighs and b.u.t.tocks, a reminder that he had spent more time riding the last two days than in all the rest of his life combined. He looked up to a hovering hummingbird and a still-mounted Zylas peering down at him, arm extended. ”Are you all right?”

”Just fricking fine.” Collins had no idea whether the almost-swear word would translate as the real thing or into a somewhat acceptable subst.i.tution like the one he had provided. He clambered painfully to his feet, ignoring Zylas' gesture. ”Mind if I just walk for a while?”

”Not at all.” Zylas peered into the distance. ”In fact, we'll take to the mountains soon. Probably better if we all walk.”

Ialin disappeared.

Collins ma.s.saged his aching shoulder.

”Only kept us mounted this far to make as small a scent trail as possible. Ialin's seen guards out there, though they don't seem to have located us.”

”What about Vernon and Korfius?” Collins asked, worried.

Zylas dismounted, clutching Falima's lead. ”No reason to think they're not safe. They've got their stories, and we just have to hope no one convinces Korfius to rat us out.”Collins laughed at the play on words, which seemed to baffle Zylas.

”What's funny?”

Collins saw no harm in explaining, this time. ”Rat us out. You're a rat.”

Zylas continued to stare.

”Just seemed funny,” Collins mumbled, withdrawing back toward his irritability.

”Is that how it translates?”

”Yeah.”

Now, Zylas chuckled. ”It's not the word I used. We don't have a lot of animal-based slang.”

Collins nodded. ”Makes sense.”

”Ready to continue?”

No, Collins thought but said, ”Yes.”

They headed into rocky hills that soon became forested mountains. The trail continued to spiral, double back, and loop. For a time, Collins tried to trace the route. When that became impossible, he attempted conversation. ”So now will you tell me about this elder?”

Zylas looked up with clear reluctance. ”You'll meet soon enough.”

Foiled again, Collins bit his lower lip. ”How soon is soon enough?”

”Tomorrow evening.”

”Tomorrow!” Collins complained, recalling that Zylas and Ialin had made the trip and returned in about twenty-four hours.

Zylas' eyes widened. ”Did you want to take longer?”

”Shorter.”

”We could arrive a little earlier,” Zylas said slowly. ”If you won't be uncomfortable with Falima and Ialin in switch-form.”

Collins considered. He might perform better with Falima communicative. She seemed to have warmed up to him in Vernon's cabin. Ialin, he thought, might do him better as a speechless bird. ”Perhaps somewhere between the two?”

Zylas tossed his tangled hair. ”Of course, there's the elder's switch time to consider, too.” He rubbed his forehead. ”While you sleep, I'll meet with the elder and talk about that.”

Surprised to have his opinion considered at all, Collins merely said, ”All right.” He had not thought about the details such coordination might require, but he should have. He had learned enough under dire enough circ.u.mstances. I should be thinking all the time. It bothered him to consider that he was, perhaps, not as smart as he believed. He had always done well in school, earning A's and B's with relative ease and not just in rote subjects. Yet he worried that his ability to antic.i.p.ate and react to life situations might not prove as competent. What happens when I get out in the real world where life doesn't consist solely of cla.s.ses and tests? The thought now seemed ludicrous. a.s.suming I survive Barakhai and ever make it back to the ”real” world.

Zylas led Falima up the slope. ”Speaking of sleep, we work best when we get half in each form.

Thought we could take a break: eat, nap.”

Though Collins had slept a solid eight hours, he suffered from hunger, thirst, and physical exhaustion.

He supposed he could learn to coordinate his sleep with Zylas', in three- or four-hour blocks rather than all at once. ”Sounds good to me.”

Despite his suggestion, Zylas continued hauling Falima up the mountainside. ”There's a cave not too far. I'd rather hole up on higher ground. Safer.”

Collins followed, now aware of his growling tummy, his dry mouth, and the soreness of his legs. He wished Zylas had waited until they'd arrived at the cave to mention food and rest.

Half an hour later, Zylas waved Collins into the rock crevice he had referred to as a cave. A curtain of vines hung over the entrance, swarmed with round pink flowers; and gra.s.s softened the floor. Collins touched a wall slimy with algae and moss and immediately jerked back his hand. Warm and moist, the interior seemed stifling after the dry, cool wind that had accompanied them through the day. Falima remained outside, grazing, but Ialin swept onto a ledge and perched. Zylas went outside nearly as soonas he entered, then returned moments later dragging the pack that had rested on Falima's withers. As Collins hurried over to help, Zylas let it flop onto the floor.

”I appreciate that Vernon doesn't want us to starve, but I would have packed a bit lighter.”

At the moment, Collins would have carried the pack the rest of the way if it meant a steady supply of Vernon's peanut-b.u.t.tery nut paste. He helped Zylas unpack enough food to satisfy them both: bread and nut paste, bugs and fruit, roots and berries. They ate well, then settled down to sleep on the gra.s.sy carpet.