Part 17 (1/2)
The skeleton in the valley! And how very close they had been themselves to joining that unknown in his permanent residence.
”So now we make time--back to the safari camp. Get our message off to the Patrol and then we'll try to trace Wa.s.s and see what we can do.
Jumala is off a regular route. The Patrol won't be here tomorrow at sunrise, no matter how much we wish a scouter would planet then.”
Vye was quiet as he stowed in the flitter again. As Hume had said, events moved fast. A little while ago he had wanted to settle with this Out-Hunter, wring out of him not only an explanation for his being here, but claim satisfaction for the humiliation of being moved about to suit some others' purposes. Now he was willing to defeat Wa.s.s, bring in the Patrol, go up against whatever hid in that lake up there, providing Hume was not the loser. He tried to think why that was so and could not, he only knew it was the truth.
They were both silent as they took off from Wa.s.s' deserted camp, sped away over the black blot of the woodland towards the safari headquarters on the plains. There were stars above again but no globes. Just as they had won their freedom from the valley, so they moved without escort on the plains.
But the lights were there--not impinging on the flitter, or patrolling along its line of flight. No, they hung in a glowing cl.u.s.ter ahead when in the dawn the flitter shot away from the woods, headed for the landmark of the safari camp. A crown of lights circled over the camp site, as if those below were in a state of siege.
Hume aimed straight for them and this time the bobbing circle split wide open, broke to left and right. Vye looked below. Though the grayness of the morning was still hardly more than dusk he could not miss those humps s.p.a.ced at intervals on the land, just beyond the unseen line of the force barrier. The lights above, the beasts below, the safari camp was under guard.
12
”There is only one way they could be moving--toward the mountains.”
Hume stood in the open s.p.a.ce among the bubble tents, facing him the four men of the camp, the three civs and Rovald. ”You say it's been seven days, planet time, since I left here. They may have been five days on that trail. If possible we have to stop them before they reach that valley.”
”A fantastic story.” Chambriss wore the affronted expression of a man who expected no interference with his own concerns. Then catching Hume's eye he added, ”Not that we doubt you, Hunter. We have the evidence in those dumb brutes waiting out there. However, by your own story, this Wa.s.s is an outside-the-law Veep, on this planet secretly for criminal purposes. Surely there is no reason for us to risk our safety in his behalf. Are you certain he is in any danger at all? You and this young man here have, by your testimony, been into the enemies' territory and have been able to get out again.”
”Through a series of fortunate chances which might never occur again.”
Hume was patient, too patient, Rovald seemed to think. His hand moved, he was holding a ray tube so that a simple movement of the wrist could send a crisping blast across all the rest of the party.
”I say, stop this yapping and get out there and pick up the Veep!”
”I intend to--after I call the Patrol.”
Rovald's tube was now aimed directly at Hume. ”No Patrol!” he ordered.
”This wrangling has gone far enough.” It was Yactisi who spoke with an authority which startled them all. And as their attention swung to him, he was already in action.
Rovald cried out, the weapon spun from his fingers, fingers which were slowly reddening. Yactisi nodded with satisfaction and he held his electo pole ready for a second attack. Vye scooped up the tube which had whirled across the ground to strike against his borrowed boot.
”I'll set the call for the Patrol, then I'll try to locate Wa.s.s,” Hume stated.
”Sensible procedure,” Yactisi approved in his dry voice. ”You believe that you are now immune to whatever force this alien installation controls?”
”It would seem so.”
”Then, of course, you must go.”
”Why?” Chambriss countered for the second time. ”Suppose he isn't so immune after all? Suppose he gets out there and is captured again?
He's our pilot--do you want to be planet bound _here_?
”This man is also a pilot.” Starns indicated Rovald, who was nursing his numb hand.
”Since he, too, is one of these criminals, he's not to be trusted!”
Chambriss shot back. ”Hunter, I demand that you take us off planet at once! And it is only fair to inform you that I also intend to prefer charges against you and against the Guild. Empty world! Just how empty have we found this world?”