Gear, W Michael & O'Neal, Kathleen - People 06 by Gear W Michael

Author:Gear, W Michael [Gear, W Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-05-30T15:32:08+00:00

"'And they watch their Khota neighbors?" Black Skull jerked his head toward the Ilini tower.

"Like turkeys watch a fox."

"Then they probably know that we're in their water.

"Probably. It depends on how alert that lookout is."

"Well, if only one Khota canoe is following, what will they do? Try to pick a fight on the open water?" "They're just foul enough to try it,"

Pearl warned.

Otter took another look over his shoulder. The Khota war canoe came on with lightning swiftness, the sleek shape closing the distance. He could count four flashing paddles.

"How many do you see?" Otter asked.

Pearl stood up, her paddle dripping water. "One canoe, four men on the paddles, that's all, Trader. We're evenly matched.

No second canoe in sight."

"Then we may have a chance." "What do you mean?" Pearl asked. "They're fresh. We've been paddling all night." Otter thought for a moment.

"I know that look," Black Skull said with a faint smile.

"What are you thinking, Otter?"

"They couldn't know about the fight on the levee; we'll have outraced the news this far northward. That means they're just looking for Pearl.

The rest of the Khota will be beating the brush for her farther south.

What could they know? Only that a Trader has slipped through their net."

"Then why are they following?" Pearl asked, worry bright in her eyes.

"To find out who we are. Put yourself in their place. That northern clan leader is no idiot. He wouldn't have a fool in charge of a border territory. Whoever he is, he'll have received word that Pearl has escaped. All right, so he spots us.

He'll send a second canoe racing downstream with the information that we've passed. This canoe--the one that's following --will try to catch us. They'll want to know if Pearl is aboard. That's all." "So?" Black Skull asked.

"Yes, so?" Pearl demanded. Otter noted that her knuckles were white around the paddle.

"So what if none of these Khota following us have ever seen Pearl?"

"I say we wing a dart at them." Black Skull squinted back down river, gauging the distance. "They'd never get close enough to get a look."

"And you'll confirm every suspicion. Pearl, quickly, before they get much closer, look into the pack in front of you. You'll find a shut in there. It's done in the manner of all White Shell weavings. Slip it on and be sure that it completely covers that yellow Khota shirt you're wearing."

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