Part 10 (1/2)

In either case, it was necessary that the Master Skin be put out of temporary commission, at least, so the Amphibs over the Kingdom could have a fighting chance. Mapfarity plunged a hollow harpoon into the isle of floating protoplasm and through a tube connected to that poured into the Skin three gallons of the dream-snake venom. That was enough to knock it out for an hour or two. Meanwhile, if the Amphibs had any sense at all, they'd have rid themselves of their extraderms.

They left the lab and entered the west wing. As they trotted up the long winding corridors Lusine said, ”Jean-Jacques, what do you plan on doing now? Will you try to make yourself King of the Terrans and fight us Amphibs?” When he said nothing she went on. ”Why don't you kill the Amphib-changeling King and take over here? I could help you do that.

You could then have all of L'Bawpfey in your power.”

He shot her a look of contempt and cried, ”Lusine, can't you get it through that thick little head of yours that everything I've done has been done so that I can win one goal: reach the Flying Stars? If I can get the Earthman to his s.h.i.+p I'll leave with him and not set foot again for years on this planet. Maybe never again.”

She looked stricken. ”But what about the war here?” she asked.

”There are a few men among the Landfolk who are capable of leading in wartime. It will take strong men, and there are very few like me, I admit, but--oh, oh, opposition!” He broke off at sight of the six guards who stood before the Earthman's suite.

Lusine helped, and within a minute they had slain three and chased away the others. Then they burst through the door--and Rastignac received another shock.

The occupant of the apartment was a tiny and exquisitely formed redhead with large blue eyes and very unmasculine curves!

”I thought you said Earth_man_?” protested Rastignac to the Giant who came lumbering along behind them.

”Oh, I used that in the generic sense,” Mapfarity replied. ”You didn't expect me to pay any attention to s.e.x, did you? I'm not interested in the gender of you Humans, you know.”

There was no time for reproach. Rastignac tried to explain to the Earthwoman who he was, but she did not understand him. However, she did seem to catch on to what he wanted and seemed rea.s.sured by his gestures. She picked up a large book from a table and, hugging it to her small, high and rounded bosom, went with him out the door.

They raced from the palace and descended onto the square. Here they found the surviving Amphibs cl.u.s.tered into a solid phalanx and fighting, b.l.o.o.d.y step by step, towards the street that led to the harbor.

Rastignac's little group skirted the battle and started down the steep avenue toward the harbor. Halfway down he glanced back and saw that n.o.body as yet was paying any attention to them. Nor was there anybody on the street to bother them, though the pavement was strewn with Skins and bodies. Apparently, those who'd lived through the first savage melee had gone to the square.

They ran onto the wharf. The Earthwoman motioned to Rastignac that she knew how to open the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p, but the Amphibs didn't. Moreover, if they did get in, they wouldn't know how to operate it. She had the directions for so doing in the book hugged so desperately to her chest. Rastignac surmised she hadn't told the Amphibs about that.

Apparently they hadn't, as yet, tried to torture the information from her.

Therefore, her telling him about the book indicated she trusted him.

Lusine said, ”Now what, Jean-Jacques? Are you still going to abandon this planet?”

”Of course,” he snapped.

”Will you take me with you?”

He had spent most of his life under the tutelage of his Skin, which ensured that others would know when he was lying. It did not come easy to hide his true feelings. So a habit of a lifetime won out.

”I will not take you,” he said. ”In the first place, though you may have some admirable virtues, I've failed to detect one. In the second place, I could not stand your blood-drinking nor your murderous and totally immoral ways.”

”But, Jean-Jacques, I will give them up for you!”

”Can the shark stop eating fish?”