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Then another sound joined； in basso counterpoint。 A rapid； unrhythmic thumping that made the ground tremble like an approaching machine。
Kurt cocked the pistol； holding it in front of him。
Suddenly； a shadow took form at the western fringe of firelight。 A monstrous shape； slanted and heavy； protruding forward at a rising angle； leading with an appendage that flailed and thrashed like a cluster of waving arms and legs。 Sara gasped and stepped back。
A moment later it resolved itself； and she let out a shuddering sigh； recognizing Ulgor as the protrusion； moaning in distress and shame； held up in the air by the adamant embrace of two armored； pincer…equipped； chitinous arms。
Qheuenish arms。 The remaining three out of five stumbled forward clumsily； fighting for balance as the writhing urs fought to break free。
〃Resistance is useless；〃 a scratchy but familiar voice whistled from two leg…vents； a voice dry with the same caked dust that fooled Sara at first； into thinking the armor was slate gray。 Only near the fire did a hint of the true shade of blue glimmer through。
〃Hello f…f…folks；〃 croaked Blade； son of Log Biter of Dolo Dam。 〃Could anybody s…s…spare a drink of water？〃
The night was clear； windy； and extremely cold for this time of year。 They nursed their fuel supply for the fire and draped fragments of the shredded tent over huddled groups of captives； to help them retain body heat。 Darkness hauled the urs…including a tightly bound Ulgor…down toward sleep； but the human insurgents muttered together under their makeshift shelter； making Sara ponder glumly what they must be scheming。 Clearly they had less desire than the surviving members of UrKachu's band to see more Urunthai arrive over the hilltops； tomorrow or the next day。 If they sawed or chewed through their bindings in the darkness； what deterrence value would Kurt's pistol hold in the event of a sudden charge？
Granted； many of the men were flash…blinded。 And Blade was a fort to have around。 Even wheezing dust； and with the softer chitin of a blues he was an intimidating figure。 With him present； Sara and the others might even risk taking turns trying to get some sleep。
If only we knew what's happened to the star…man； she worried。
He'd been gone for several miduras。 Even with Loocen now up to shed a wan glow across the country…side； it was all too easy to imagine the poor fellow getting lost out there。
〃The gunshot helped lead me to your camp；〃 Blade explained once Sara and Jomah had sponged out his vents and eye circle； using up much of their precious water。 〃I was being rather desperate； unable to follow your trail in the fading light； when I heard the bang。 A bit later； there was the reflection of your fire off yonder spire。〃
Sara looked up。 A flicker did seem to dance across the tall stone tower。 Perhaps it would guide the Stranger home。
〃Imagine my surprise； though； when someone came running forth to greet me！〃 Blade chuckled out three vents。 〃Of course； my shock was nothing like Ulgor's when she saw me！〃
The qheuen's tale was simple； if valiant。 He had waited underwater； back at Uryutta's Oasis； until UrKachu's fast group departed； followed by the slower expedition of captives and booty。 Blade spent the time contemplating his options。 Should he strike out for Crossroads or some other settlement？ Or else try to follow and give help when help might do the most good？ Either decision would mean dehydration and pain…not to mention danger。 Sara noticed that Blade never mentioned a third option： to wait at the oasis until someone came along。 Perhaps it never occurred to him。
〃One thing I didn't expect…to find you four in charge； having overe both groups all by yourselves！ It appears you never needed rescue； after all。〃
Jomah laughed from atop Blade's carapace； where he was sponging off the qheuen's scent…slits。 The boy hugged his blue cupola。 〃You saved the day！〃
Sara nodded。 〃You're the biggest hero of all； dear； dear friend。〃
There seemed no more to say after that。 Or else； everyone was too tired for more words。 They watched the flames in silence for a while。 At one point Sara stared at Loocen； observing the bright； reflected…sunlight twinkle of abandoned Buyur cities； those enduring reminders of the might and glory that once filled this solar system and that would again； someday。
We sooners are like Jijo's dreams； she thought。 Ghostlike wraiths who leave no trace when we are gone。 Passing fantasies； while this patch of creation rests and makes ready for the next phase of achievement by some godlike race。
It was not a forting contemplation。 Sara did not wish to be a dream。 She wanted what she did and thought in life to matter； if only as contributions to something that grew better with time； through her works； her children； her civilization。 Perhaps this desire was rooted in the irreverent upbringing provided by her mother； whose offspring included a famous heretic； a legendary hunter； and a believer in crazy theories about a different kind of redemption for all of the races of the Six。
She thought back to her conversation with Dedinger。
We'll probably never know which of us would have been right； if the mons had been left alone to go its own way。 Too bad。 Each of us believes in something that's beautiful； in its own way。 At least； a whole lot more beautiful than extinction。
Silence allowed some of the world's natural sounds to grow familiar once again； as residual tintinnations in her ears slowly ebbed。
I should be glad not to be pletely deaf or blind at this point…let alone dead。 If there's any permanent damage； I'll manage to live with it。
The Stranger set a good example； ever cheerful despite horrific loss of much that had made him who he was。 She decided； at times like these； any attitude but gritty stoicism simply made no sense at all。
Of the sounds brought forth by the night； some were recognizable。 A floating cadence of sighs that was wind； stroking the nearby prairie and then funneling through the columns of twisted stone。 A distant； lowing moan told of a herd of gallaiters。 Then came the grumbling rattle of a ligger； warning all others to stay out of its territory； and the keening of some strange bird。
While she listened； the keening changed in pitch； waxing steadily in volume。 Soon she realized； That's no bird。
It wasn't long before the sound acquired a throaty power； steadily increasing until it took over possession of the night； pushing all petitors aside。 Sara stood up and the bulging tent fragments rippled as others reacted to the rising clamor…a din that soon climaxed as a bawling roar； forcing her hands over her tender ears。 Blade's cupola shrank inward； and the captive urs bayed unhappy counterpoint； rocking their long necks back and forth。 Pebbles fell from the nearby rocky spires； worrying Sara that the towers might topple under the howling shove of disturbed air。
That sound…I heard it once before。
The sky grew radiant as something bright passed into view…decelerating with a series of titanic booms…a glowing； many…studded tube whose heat was palpable； even at a distance of…
Of what？ Sara had glimpsed a starship only once before； a far…off glitter from her treehouse window。 Beyond that； she had pictures； sketches； and dry； abstract measurements to go on…all useless for parison； as her mind went numb。
It must still be high up in the atmosphere； she realized。 Yet it seemed so big。。。
The god…ship passed from roughly southwest to northeast； clearly descending； slowing down for a landing。 It took no great ingenuity to guess its destination。
For all its awesome beauty； Sara did not feel anything this time but a sour churn of dread。
Lark
IT WAS HARD TO MAKE OUT MUCH FROM A DISTANCE。 The blaze of light ing from the Glade was so intense； it cast long shadows； even down the forested lanes of a mountainside； many leagues away。
〃Now you see what you're up against；〃 Ling told him； standing nearby； watched by a half…dozen wary militiamen。 〃This won't be anything like taking down a couple of little bodyguard robots。〃
〃Of that I have no doubt；〃 Lark answered； shading his eyes t