Part 34 (1/2)

”I was in the drink,” Han reminded him. ”You were hauling the raft around to take out the sh.o.r.e-gang boss. Got him right in the bulb, too. Thanks.”

The old bull made a gurgling sound resembling a chuckle. ”An accident, peewee; didn't I tell you it's un-Lawful to meddle in a human squabble?” He gurgled again, bringing his wide chest against the raft's stern and shoving toward the opposite sh.o.r.e.

”What about your nephew?” Hasti wanted to know.

”Oh, he's through trying to make the lake his own pond. Fool idea would have gotten him killed sooner or later anyway, and he's too valuable to waste. I'll need a deputy soon; haven't got many more sc.r.a.ps like that one left in me. These youngsters always think they're clever, going for my blind side.”

”I still wouldn't trust him,” Han warned.

”You don't trust anybody,” Hasti chided.

”And you don't see me getting my flipper bit, do you?” he retorted smugly.

”Oh, Kasarax will be all right,” Shazeen said. ”He just thought he wanted us to fear him. He'll like it better once we respect him; all but the worst ones come around, given the chance.”

The far sh.o.r.e had come up quickly. Shazeen propelled them toward it with a few more hard strokes, then flipped over and shoved them on with a sweep of his rear flippers. The raft nosed onto the strand, lifted on the crest. Han stepped onto the damp sand.

The others followed him. Badure had a rather sick Skynx slung over one shoulder. The female who had saved Shazeen's pa.s.sengers surfaced next to him, obviously concerned.

But her eye fell on Hasti, whose cowl had fallen back to display her red hair. ”You had a rougher ride this time, human,” the Swimmer observed.

Hasti registered confusion. ”Wasn't that you,” the Swimmer female asked, ”back before Kasarax took over? Sorry; the hair and, what do you call them, the clothes, are just the same.”

Hasti whispered, ”Lanni! These are her clothes!”

Badure asked the female what this pa.s.senger had done.

”Just came across and asked people questions about those mountains there, waved a little machine in the air, then went back,” she replied.

Han, pouring water from his boot, looked up at the mountains rearing to the south. ”What's up there?”

”Nothing,” answered Shazeen. ”Humans don't usually go up there. Fewer come back. They say it's just desolation up there.” He was studying Chewbacca, who had doffed the hated cloak, Bollux's gleaming form, and the now-reviving Skynx.

”I'd heard that,” agreed Badure. ”The mining camp lies on the far side of the mountains, Han, but I'd reckoned we'd go around. Why should Lanni have been interested in them, I wonder?”

Han stood up. ”Let's find out.”

X.

THE terrain lifted away from the lakesh.o.r.e in a series of rolling hills carpeted with soft, blue moss that cus.h.i.+oned their steps. Han was gratified to see the moss spring back when they had pa.s.sed, thereby obliterating the group's prints.

Supplies were no problem. The workers on this side of the lake, all members of Kasarax's sh.o.r.e gang, had departed in haste on seeing their leader defeated, fearing the blood-vengeance of the non-gang members. Calculating a ten- to twelve-day march through the mountains, the party had carefully picked through the abandoned storage buildings for provisions and equipment.

They had filled their packs with jars of lake crustaceans marinated in syrup, plastic cartons of the doughy stuff Hasti had first sampled, tubes of pickled vegetable slices, bags of meal, smoked fish, cured meat, and some hard purple sausages. Even though they carried capacious water bladders, they were relying on finding more water in the mountains. According to the survey map, there were abundant run-offs and fresh springwater throughout the area. Those who wore clothing had gathered cold weather gear. Han had pulled off his wet clothes, settling for a Dellaltian outfit until he could dry his own, and contrived a bandage for the knife cut. Practicality had made Hasti exchange her robes and gown for an outfit suitable for an adolescent boy. They had also found thick, insulated bedrolls.

There were no riding animals or power vehicles to be found. But Han didn't mind, trusting unfamiliar beasts no more than he did the aged and breakdown-p.r.o.ne Dellaltian machinery. Bollux, who could bear a heavy pack and yet consumed no water or food, found that his popularity had increased. They felt lucky to have him along, knowing none of the local domesticated animals or ground vehicles were suited to the mountain terrain and aircraft were few and far between on Dellalt. They had found some lengths of rope, but no other climbing gear. Neither had they found medicine or a medi-pack, additional weapons or charges, commo or navigational gear, heating unit, or macrobinoculars or tele-eye, though the scope on Han's blaster would be some compensation for the last. For shelter, they had brought along a wagoner's tent they found in one of the abandoned buildings.

And they were armed. In addition to Han's side arm and Chewbacca's bowcaster, they also had the weapons captured from J'uoch's forces. Badure carried the stun-gun he had already used and a brace of long-barreled power pistols. Hasti had a compact disrupter, a dart-shooter loaded with toxic missiles, and a blaster, but the latter was nearly exhausted because Han had used it to recharge his own. Skynx declined to bear arms, which his species never used, and Bollux's basic programming, the 'droid said, prohibited him from using them as well.

Ascending the foothills, they kept the ridge lines between themselves and the region behind, though Han doubted anyone was taking time to try to spot them. The collapse of Kasarax's racket was probably occupying everyone's attention. Gusting winds tore across the open hills, pressing at the resilient moss and stirring the travelers' hair, clothing, and fur. The country was stark and vacant. Lacking a second comlink, they decided not to put out a point-walker, but rather to rely on the wide field of surveillance they could maintain.

Chewbacca took the lead, treading the blue moss lightly for all his size, testing the air with black nostrils flaring. His blue eyes moved constantly, his hunter's senses keenly attuned. A dozen paces behind trudged Bollux. The labor 'droid had opened his chest plastron a crack at the computer's demand, and Max was taking in the view.

Next came Badure and Hasti side by side. Skynx followed after, carrying only his musical instruments because none of the packs fit him and he couldn't have borne much weight anyway. Undulating along, he kept pace without difficulty.

Han brought up the rear, frequently casting glances behind, making, minute adjustments in the balance and shoulder-strap padding of the makes.h.i.+ft pack he had thrown together. He lined up prominent terrain features and did his best to keep track of their direction and course, since that was the only way they would have of orienting themselves to the surveying map. From time to time he thought about the treasure, but the open countryside and the brisk wind made him happier than he would have admitted. In a way, they reminded him of the freedom of s.p.a.ce travel.

The group moved on throughout the morning with deliberate speed, Han stopping frequently to scan his blaster's scope for some sign of pursuit. But as Dellalt's blue-white primary climbed the sky and none appeared, they slowed a bit, saving strength for the long journey.

Skynx dropped back to talk to Han. The Ruurian had a rapid metabolism and so had recovered from his bout with the flask. Han, who had been walking backward for a few paces while he checked the rear, pivoted around in step. It occurred to him that Skynx must be thoroughly disillusioned with human-style adventuring.

”Hey, Skynx, break out that hip-pocket orchestra of yours. We're out in the open anyway, like a bug on a canopy. A little music won't make things any chancier.”

The Ruurian complied eagerly. Using his lowermost four sets of limbs for locomotion without decreasing speed, he took up the tympanic pulsers, bellows-horn, and flute. He began a human-tempo marching tune, one for marching overland rather than for a parade.

The small pulsers held a catchy beat, the bellows-horn tootled, and the flute skirled. Han resisted the quickened pace, but enjoyed the music.

Badure squared his shoulders and fell into energetic stride, sucking in his overhanging stomach and humming with the music. Hasti smiled at Skynx and strode along more quickly.

Chewbacca tried to stay in step, although Wookiees don't generally take to regimentation. The process was awkward for him. He achieved a kind of animated swagger, though not even remotely in time. Bollux, however, fell right into step, mechanical legs pumping precisely, arms swinging, chin held high.

They trod blue moss; cold wind made the landscape seem barren and free. In this manner they proceeded over the hill.

They were well up into the heights when the blue-white sun set. The few lights of the city came on, far below and behind them. Outcroppings of rock had begun to appear, rising from the blue moss. They camped at one of these ledges, under an overhang that would afford some protection from wind. There was no fuel for a fire.

As they settled in, Han established priorities. ”I'm going to check the area with the scope. Chewie will take first watch, after he eats. Badure, you take second and I'll take third. Skynx can have the wake-up duty. Is that all right with everybody?”

Badure didn't mention Han's a.s.sumption of leaders.h.i.+p, being content with the arrangement. ”What about me?” Hasti asked evenly.

”You can have first watch tomorrow, so don't feel left out. Would it be straining our bonds of affection to ask to borrow your wrist chrono?”

Teeth clenched, she threw it at him, then he and Chewbacca set off. ”You're welcome!” she called after him. ”Who does he think he is, anyway?” she said to the others.

Badure answered mildly. ”Slick? He's used to taking charge; he wasn't always a smuggler and a freighter b.u.m. Didn't you notice the red piping on the seams of his s.h.i.+pboard trousers? They don't give away the Corellian Blood-stripe for perfect attendance.”

She considered that for a moment. ”Well, how did he get it? And why do you call him Slick?”

”You'll have to get that first part from him, but the nickname business goes back to the first time I met him, way back.”

In spite of herself, she was curious. Skynx was also listening with interest, as were Bollux and Blue Max. The two automata decided to hear Badure out before shutting down for the night; their photoreceptors glowed in the dusk.

It was becoming colder fast, and the humans pulled their cloaks tighter, Badure closing his flight jacket. Skynx curled his woolly form to conserve body heat.