Part 24 (1/2)

Jonnie was happy to get him away from the relief map. It was too much like Terl staring down at Jonnie's people.

Terl went down the stairs toward the front door, pools of ancient dust stirring as he walked.

The sound of their footsteps had obscured it. Jonnie was certain he heard the hoofstrike of a horse!

Chapter 7.

Terl was standing just outside the library, looking down the gra.s.s-grown street.

Jonnie s.h.i.+fted his position to see what Terl was looking at. He went rigid with shock.

A hundred yards away, there was windsplitter!

And somebody on him and three other horses behind him.

Terl was just standing there watching the street.

The moment had come. It was not coordinated. But Jonnie knew he was having his last chance.

He snapped the metal tool out of his ankle cuff and slashed the leash.

It parted.

Like a streak of light Jonnie sprinted out of the door past Terl. Suddenly yanking talons caught in the buckskin.

It ripped.

Zigzagging like a hare, Jonnie headed for the nearest tree cover, momentarily expecting a pistol blast in the back.

He halted with his back braced against a broad aspen.

It was Chrissie!

And not only Chrissie, there was Pattie.

A sob surged up through Jonnie.

Chrissie's glad cry rang out. ”Jonnie!”

Pattie yelled with delight. ”Jonnie! Jonnie!”

And Windsplitter started to trot toward him.

”Go back!” screamed Jonnie. ”Run! Oh my G.o.d, run run!”

They halted, perplexed, their gladness turning into alarm. At a distance behind Jonnie they could see a thing. They started to turn the horses.

Jonnie crouched and whirled. Terl was still standing in the library door. Jonnie grabbed the handgun from his pouch and threw the safety off. He let the handgun show.

”If you fire on them you're dead!” he shouted.

Terl just stood there.

There was a turmoil of horses behind Jonnie. He risked a glance back. Windsplitter had reared. He had seen no reason not to approach his master. He was fighting to come forward.

”Run, Chrissie! Run!” screamed Jonnie.

Terl was walking forward, rumbling, indolent. He had not drawn his gun.

”Tell them to ride up closer,” called Terl.

”Stand where you are!” shouted Jonnie. ”I'll shoot!”

Terl leisurely strolled forward. ”Don't get them hurt, animal.”

Jonnie stepped out from the tree. The handgun was extended. He was sighting it on Terl's mask tube.

”Be reasonable, animal,” said Terl. But he stopped.

”You knew they would be here today!” said Jonnie.

”Yes,” said Terl. ”I've been tracking them by recon drone for days. Ever since they left your village. Put the gun away, animal.”

Behind him Jonnie could hear the horses milling. If only they would run!

Terl, paw staying clear of his gun, was reaching for his breast pocket.

”Stay still or I'll shoot!” called Jonnie.

”Well, animal, you can go ahead and pull the firing catch if you like. The electrical connector has a dummy wire in it.”

Jonnie looked at the gun. He took a deep breath and lined it up. He clenched the trigger.

Nothing happened.

Terl finished his motion to his breast pocket. He took out the gold coin and tossed it in the air and caught it. ”l, not Ker, sold you the gun, animal.”

Jonnie pulled a kill-club from his belt. He braced himself for a charge.

Terl's paw motion was swifter than the eye. His belt gun was out. It fired a sharp bark.