29aa444cf15e342390213d4412cb4e16 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-18T16:00:00+00:00

13

At the Portage, a Tantal soldier trotted up to the commander’s canopy and saluted stiffly, panting as he stood at attention.

“Well? A report?”

“Yes, Commander. We have no report from downriver.” “Which post?”

“Pleck’s, the nearest—which would have gathered the others.”

“How long overdue?”

“Three sandmeasures now, Commander.”

The commander tapped his finger on his knee. “It’s early yet. Report to me again if they aren’t here in two more sandmeasures. It’s a harzas small stream. One tree fallen across it might have held them up.”

“Commander, that is hardly possible, if I may say so. The nearest watchers send a runner.”

The commander stood in a jump, angry at the contradiction and alarmed. He turned toward the sentries on a platform on the rim of the long ditch. The two men stood at ease on their post scanning the woods. One jerked slightly as a sharp sound spat out of the woods. He put his hand to his chest and pitched off the platform.

“The alarm! Alarm! Alarm! Take shelter! Now! Now! Now!” the commander shouted, running, as rifle cracks sounded along the perimeter of the ditch. As the commander ran, four more men went down. From several well-dug-in positions, his men began to throw rockets and arrows up in arcs blindly aiming into the dense foliage.

In less than a sunwidth, the Tantal had ducked into their fortified positions and the woods were silent.

“Sacchar, scan the south,” the commander said to his side. The young man took off his crested helmet and climbed to a log viewing port. He remained silent for a time. “Nothing, commander. I see no attack at—” The side of his face splashed red and he buckled and slumped. The sharp rifle sound instantly followed. Sacchar tumbled down the ladder. The commander shrank back a moment, then stooped over him. Sacchar’s eyes were open and sightless.

“Of all the cowardly, harzas, freaking, festering piles of Pelbar garbage,” he said, growling and spitting. “We’ll begin sweep patrols tonight.” A dull thud came from the north. “Ha. There. One of them’s gone at least. His dog-eating brains will be all over the harzas trees.”

Gurn, who had stepped on a Tantal explosive mine, now lay torn and still. Before long Blu came and stooped over his friend, then looked up, grim.

“They’ve found some way to set explosives to wait for us. Tugge. Be careful. Gather up all you can here. Anything at all from the device. We need to study it. Apri, Spure, cover for Tugge. Any sign of them and you all get out. Remember. No paths. We’ll set a few snares of our own. Come. Aul, Bawn—bring Gurn. We will bury him overlooking the Bitter Sea, up the coast. I had hoped to do this job without death —I’ve grown unused to it. Foolish, I see. But they will pay. They will pay.”

Blu stooped and took up Gum’s rifle, rubbing the barrel on his sleeve. He looked down at his friend. “Well, young one, when Ruthan has another child, it will be Gum—boy or girl.” He wiped his right eye with the back of his hand.

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