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Kimmer goes with me. I don t trust him either. I ll take Jiro along, as
well. And Sergeant Greene. Neither of them could get through Greene to me.
You ll only have Kimo to worry about, and he strikes me as too placid to do
anything on his own. Shensu is a proven ally. Present my compliments to
Lieutenant Ni Morgana when she returns and relay this order: Either you or
the lieutenant are to be on the Erica at all times. Also, the marines are to
stand proper watches until I return. Have I made that clear?
Aye, aye, sir, Lieutenant Benden. Loud and clear, sir. Nev s teeth were
almost chattering with his assurances, and his eyes were wide.
I ll report in at intervals, so break out hand units for yourself and
Vartry.
Aye, aye, sir.
We ll be back in two days. Ross ordered Greene to collect supplies and
carry them to the sled.
If you will pardon me, Lieutenant, Kimmer said unctuously as he and Jiro
entered the craft, I think we can easily reach Karachi
Camp today, stopping at Suweto and Yukon on the way. Karachi is a real
possibility because, now that Thread is gone, they d want to activate the
mines.
Surprising himself, Benden gestured with an open hand to the pilot s seat.
You have the conn, Mr. Kimmer. It was as good a way as any to see just how
competent the old man had been: if he had actually done what he d said he d
done. After all, you re more familiar with this model sled than I am, and
you know where we re going. It would also be easier to keep the old man
occupied.
So Benden seated himself behind Kimmer while the sergeant, giving his officer
only a mildly reproachful look, took the seat next to
Jiro on the starboard side.
The old sled purred along as if delighted by its release from long
imprisonment. It answered the yoke with the smoothness of a well-maintained
vehicle as Kimmer swung it to port. Kimmer wasn t all bad, Benden thought to
himself, and wondered again why the old man had insisted on this search. Was
it really to prove to Benden that his folk were the only ones left? Or had
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Kimmer some ulterior motive? And would Kimmer be surprised if they did find
anyone? After overflying the snowy waste of the northern continent and the
devastation of the southern lands, Benden could only be surprised that anyone
had survived. It was certainly most unlikely that his uncle, who d be well
into his twelfth decade, would still be alive.
They came down from the foothills across the river obliquely to port of Ni
Morgana and her group, and then across a lifeless plain of circles in the
dust. There were spots here and there of struggling plant life, and Benden
wondered if the wind would scatter the topsoil before vegetation could
reestablish itself and prevent further erosion. And that was the pattern for
the next few hours: broad uneven-edged ribbons, about fifty klicks across of
ravaged land, then broader belts of grassland or forest, even thick vegetation
that was neither shrub nor jungle, with the glint of hidden water in rivers
and ponds.
The old sled purred along at about 220 klicks per hour. Benden broke out
rations and passed them around. Kimmer altered the course and, over the
sloping nose of the sled, a large and brilliantly blue lake could be seen. As
they neared it and Kimmer obligingly skimmed low, they saw the
vegetation-crowned mounds that indicated the ruins of a considerable
settlement.
Drake s Lake. Kimmer gave a sour laugh. Damned arrogant fool, he
muttered to himself. No signs of anyone, but there may be at Andiyar s
mines.
They overflew more deserted housing and startled a herd of grazing animals,
which plunged wildly away from the muted sound of the sled.
Livestock seems to have survived, Benden remarked. Will you turn yours
loose?
What else? Kimmer barked a laugh. Though Chio s moaning about her pet
fire-dragon having to be left behind.
Fire-dragon? Benden asked in surprise.
Well, that s what some people thought they looked like, Kimmer explained
diffidently. They look like reptiles, lizards to me.
It s an indigenous life-form, hatches from eggs, and if you get one then, it
attaches itself to you. Useless thing as far as I can see, but
Chio s fond of it. He glanced over his shoulder at Benden.
It wouldn t take up much room, Juro said, speaking for the first time.
It s a bronze male.
Benden shook his head. Humans, yes; creatures, no, he said firmly. The
captain was still likely to question his foisting eleven human survivors on
her, but she d blow her tubes if he tried to impose an alien pet.
They reached the mine site and landed near the adits. Within was cocooned
equipment-ore carts, picks, shovels, all kinds of hand tools, as well as an
array of tough plas props for tunnel supports.
You really had gone back to the lowest level of useful technology, hadn t
you? Benden said, hefting one of the picks. But if you had stonecutters,
didn t you--
When that damned Thread started falling, your uncle called in all power packs
for use in the sleds. That was Benden s priority, and we couldn t fight it.
The living quarters, unlike those at the lake, had been cocooned. Peering in
through the thinner patches over windows, Benden could see that furnishings
had been left in place.
See what I mean, Lieutenant? This place is all ready to be started up again.
It s nearly two years since Thread stopped falling. If they could, they d be
back here.
They spent the night there at Karachi, setting up a rough camp. While Kimmer
started a fire-- to keep the tunnel snakes away, he told Benden-the
lieutenant made contact with Honshu and spoke to Nev, who said that Ni Morgana
was writing up her notes and that nothing of any significance had happened.
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Just as Benden was signing off, Juro came to the sled for a coil of rope and
walked off into the forest. He returned not too much later with a fat, squat
avian, which he had roped off a branch and strangled. He identified it as a
wherry, as he neatly skinned it, then spitted it over the fire. During its
roasting, the aroma of the meat was tantalizing, arousing a good appetite. It
proved to be very tasty.
Forest wherries are better than coastal ones, Kimmer said, slicing himself
another portion. Those have an oily, fishy taste.
Greene nodded appreciatively as he licked his fingers clean of the juices.
Then he excused himself and disappeared into the woods.
Just about the time Benden was becoming apprehensive about his long absence,
he reappeared.
Nothing moving anywhere, except things that slither, he reported in a low
voice. I don t think we need to set a watch, Lieutenant, but I always sleep
light.
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