Sandcats of Rhyl by Vardeman Robert E

Author:Vardeman, Robert E. [Vardeman, Robert E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4405-5208-3
Publisher: Prologue Books
Published: 1978-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“I think we can circle around the city and see if there’s anything worth mentioning,” said Slayton. He didn’t want to enter the city directly. Not since he had sighted the lurking sandcat, waiting, inscrutable and infinitely deadly, at any rate. He would content himself with keeping a solid wall of rock to his back. The only attacks he would have to contend with would be frontal.

“A little more reconnaissance seems in order,” agreed Steorra. “We can search for the site my father must have established. I’ve been looking around the edge of the city, and I can’t see any signs of a human ever being here. Yet Daddy must have been down there. This has to be his discovery. I know it!”

Slayton smirked. The girl’s cheeks were flushed with the victory of vindication. Her father was responsible for discovering the archeological find of the century. Cities this perfect simply weren’t found abandoned. Most cities with people in them weren’t in such good repair. Slayton wondered how long it would take Steorra to realize he and Dhal had no intention of letting her escape alive with word of this vast treasure trove waiting to be looted — by them.

“This is better than the furnace outside,” said Dhal. “Heat doesn’t seem to get through the walls, and it’s nice and cool.” He peeled off his filter and inhaled deeply. “No dust in the air, either. That’s a big relief. I’m getting damned tired of breathing nothing but sand.”

“I thought you were the famous, all-mighty desert explorer,” taunted Slayton.

“I was born on a desert world. Shudd isn’t my idea of paradise and neither is Rhyl. Paradise isn’t supposed to be hot. Hell is.”

“Let’s hurry,” urged Steorra. “I want to make sure Nightwind doesn’t steal a single pebble from this gorgeous city.”

“All right. I’ll lead the way and just to make sure,” Slayton said, patting his blasterifle, “I’ll keep this handy.”

“Remember what I said,” she told him firmly. “Only in self-defense. Or in defense of my father’s find.”

“Dhal and I will make sure the right people get all of this.” Slayton saw that Steorra wasn’t the least suspicious. Now that the city was in view, her attention was focused totally in that direction.

Slayton motioned to Dhal and pulled the smaller man aside, saying, “Keep a sharp lookout. Those guys down there are tricky. And there might be sandcats in here. Remember, those ‘cats move quick as light. You’ll be damned lucky to get more than a blue Doppler shift of warning. Shoot first and we’ll sort things out later. And if the lady doesn’t like it, we’ll take care of her then and there. Got it?”

“Sure, Lane. But I doubt if the sandcats could get in here. And don’t worry about Nightwind. Leastways, don’t worry about anything but how we’re going to get all the loot out of here and back to civilization where we can cash it in for real luxury!”

Slayton nodded. He fully understood Dhal’s impatience to get back with their booty.

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