Part 51 (2/2)

Hwos.h.i.+en said firmly. ”We not only require a solution to this, we require one now. I cannot risk another town in the name of caution.” He adjusted his own trans- lator and walked to the railing.

”Wenkoseemansa-Latehoht-pack leader.” Two familiar shapes instantly flanked the s.h.i.+p. They were soon joined by a larger third: Kinehahtoh. Hwos.h.i.+en , explained what they wished of the orca's. When he had finished, Kinehahtoh spun distress in the water.

”Bad timing is thhis, a woefful prroposal you makke. Not at all goood. ”Hs bitter to thhe taste of the packk.

”Like we not the catodons oven-much, like they us still less, and saltted is theirr irrritation with con- temmpt. But theirr dislike of us is as swweet schools of golden madandrra to the taste comparred with theirr dislike of hummans. Dangerrous, woefful dangerrous is this idea.” He stopped spinning and splas.h.i.+ng, gazed up at the humans lining the low rail.

”Knoww you thhat if the catodons choose to vent theirr discontent, wwe cannot prrotect you. Know you thhis welll Even did wwe wish to, wwe could not. Arre

219.

firrst among the Cetacea the catodons, whho alone in the sea arre strronger than the orrcas.”

”We understand your position,” Cora said, ”but we have no choice. We've come to a dead end.”

” 'Deadd end'?” a puzzled Kinehahtoh echoed.

”A place that cannot be swum through, like the bottom of the sea,” Mataroreva explained helpfully.

”Awwwh. Underrstand wwe noww yourr posi- tionnn.”

”Can you find them, then?” Mataroreva asked ex- pectantly. ”The large pod we conversed with so many days ago?”

”Can find prrobably, cann overrtaaaake.”

”Then do only that much for us,” Hwos.h.i.+en put in, ”and the orcas are released at the moment of contact from any obligation to us.” Mataroreva whirled on him, gaping.

”This Kinehahtoh has already restated their posi- tion, Sam. Close your mouth. There's no point in ask- ing them to risk their precious interspecies Covenant.

As he told us, the orcas couldn't protect us even if they wanted to. I don't want them holding any bad feelings against us if this doesn't work out.” He turned back to the water.

”Take us to them. That will be sufficient. We will do our own talking.”

”Fooolish thhing is thhis,” Wenkoseemansa said, leaping clear of the surface and landing with a tremen- dous splash. ”Fooolish. Arre therre not otherr ways, otherr means, to learm the answwerrs you requirre?”

But no one could think of any, though all tried as best they could as the suprafoil sped northwestward, following the pack of coursing black and white shapes.

By spreading out, the orcas were able to search a tremendous volume of ocean, backed by the long- ranging sonarizer of the suprafoil. Even so, they lo- cated the pod sooner than even Hwos.h.i.+en might have hoped. The catodons could be leisurely travelers, often

220 CACHALOT.

following schools of food rather than any straight course. Also, they' were hindered by the presence of many calves, which the hunting orca pack had left safely behind.

Cora, Hwos.h.i.+en, Mataroreva, and Dawn moved to the bow of the s.h.i.+p as they neared the herd. Cora found herself wis.h.i.+ng the other, younger woman had remained behind. She still had not accepted Dawn's insistent claim that she had no permanent designs on Sam, less so that Sam held no interest in her. Cora had too graphic a proof of the latter.

A call came to them from inside the cabin. ”Twelve kilometers and closing.”

”Thank you, Mr. Asamwe,” Hwos.h.i.+en replied crisply. His attention was also directed forward. ”Yes, I can see the spouts.” Cora strained, could make out nothing against the sea and sky. Whatever Hwos.h.i.+en's age, there was nothing old about his eyes.

”I don't see them.”

<script>