Part 28 (2/2)
”And if we do not use the cruisers up the river”--Ashe conned the map--”then perhaps a small party or parties working overland could strike the stream here, nearer to the uplands.”
Torgul frowned at the map. ”I do not think so. Even small parties moving in that direction would be sighted by Glicmas's people. The more so if they headed inland. He will not wish to share his secrets with others.”
”But, say--a party of Foanna.”
The Captain glanced up swiftly to favor Ashe with a keen regard. ”Then he would not dare. No, I am sure he would not dare to interfere. Not yet has he risen high enough to turn the hook of his sword against them. But would the Foanna do so?”
”If not the Foanna, then others wearing like robes,” Ashe said slowly.
”Others wearing like robes?” repeated Torgul. Now his frown was heavy.
”No man would take on the guise of the Foanna; he would be blasted by their power for so doing. If the Foanna will lead us in their persons, then we shall follow gladly, knowing that their magic will be with us.”
”There is also this,” Ross broke in. ”The Baldies have the gill-packs they took from Baleku and Loketh, and they have Loketh. They will want to learn more about us. We hoped that the citadel would provide bait to draw them and it did. That our plan for a trap there was spoiled was ill fortune. But I am sure that if the Baldies believe we are coming to them, they will hold off an all-out attack against our march, hoping to gather us in intact. They'd risk that.”
Ashe nodded. ”I agree. We are the unknown they must solve now. And this much I am sure of--the future of this world and her people balances on a very narrow line of choice. It is my hope that such a choice is still to be made.”
Torgul smiled thinly. ”We live in perilous times when the Shades require our swords to go up against the Shadow!”
18
World in Doubt?
The day was dully overcast as all days had been since they had begun this sulk-and-march penetration into the mountain territory. Ross could not accept the idea that the Foanna might actually command wind and wave, storm and sun, as the Hawaikans firmly believed, but the gloomy weather _had_ favored them so far. And now they had reached the last breathing point before they took the plunge into the heart of the enemy country. About the way in which they were to make that plunge, Ross had his own plan. One he did not intend to share with either Ashe or Karara.
Though he had had to outline it to the one now waiting here with him.
”This is still your mind, younger brother?”
He did not turn his head to look at the cloaked figure. ”It is still my mind!” Ross could be firm on that point.
The Terran backed out of the vantage place from which he had been studying the canyonlike valley cupping the Baldy s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p. Now he got to his feet and faced Ynlan, his own gray cloak billowing out in the wind to reveal the Rover scale armor underneath.
”You can do it for me?” he asked in turn. During the past days the Foanna had admitted that the weird battle within the citadel had weakened and limited their ”magic.” Last night they had detected a force barrier ahead and to transport the whole party through that by telaporting was impossible.
”Yes, you alone. Then my wand would be drained for a s.p.a.ce. But what can you do within their hold, save be meat for their taking?”
”There can not be too many of them left there. That's a small s.h.i.+p. They lost five at the citadel, and the Rovers have three prisoners. No sign of the scout s.h.i.+p we know they have--so more of them must be gone in it.
I won't be facing an army. And what they have in the way of weapons may be powered by installations in the s.h.i.+p. A lot of damage done there. Or even if the s.h.i.+p lifted--” He was not sure of what he could do; this was a venture depending largely on improvisation at the last moment.
”You propose to send off the s.h.i.+p?”
”I don't know whether that is possible. No, perhaps I can only attract their attention, break through the force s.h.i.+eld so the rest may attack.”
Ross knew that he must attempt this independent action, that in order to remain the Ross Murdock he had always been, he must be an actor not a spectator.
The Foanna did not argue with him now. ”Where--?” Her long sleeve rippled as she gestured to the canyon. Dull as the skies were overhead, there was light here--too much of it for his purpose as the ground about the s.h.i.+p was open. To appear there might be fatal.
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