Stasheff, Christopher - Warlock 05 - The Warlock Wandering by Stasheff Christopher

Author:Stasheff, Christopher [Stasheff, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780441873623
Publisher: Ace
Published: 1985-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

"Find some landmark," Yorick explained. He glanced at the viewscreen. "Can't do much with that, the power cut off as soon as we broke away from the ship. All we've got is a little emergency power for lights, air, and heat, nothing left over for sight-seeing."

Gwen frowned at the screen, and it burst into life. A landscape reeled across it, blurred by speed, obscured by darkness.

Yorick stared. "How did you do that?" Then he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "Never mind—I don't think I want to know. But try to pick out some big landmark, Lady Gallowglass, and slow us down until it stays put in the middle of the screen."

The landscape began to slow. Moonlight outlined ridges that were chains of hills, showing a groove that must have been a valley.

In its center, pricks of light glittered.

"Civilization!" Chomoi cried. "That's gotta be a city! Only people make that kind of light! Quick, Lady Gallowglass, put us down there!"

Gwen concentrated harder on the screen. "I will essay it…"

Chornoi leaned over to Yorick. "How come she can talk while she's doing it, and he can't?"

'"Cause she's better at it than he is." Yorick spread his hands. "What can I tell you? She's been practicing since she was born, and he only found out he had power three years ago."

Chornoi reared her head back, looking askance at him. "How come you know so much about them?"

"Friend of the family," Yorick assured her, "and if you met their kids, you'd want to be friendly, too."

"There." Sweat beaded Gwen's brow. "Master Yorick, is that as thou didst wish it?"

"Beautiful," Rod mumbled.

Yorick looked at the screen. It was as rock-still as though someone had hung a map at the front of the cabin. He blinked. "How the hell did you do that? I didn't feel a thing!"

"I slowed us folk as I slowed the vessel."

Yorick stared at her. "Right." He shook himself. "Sure. Inertia—what's that? just a frame of reference, right?"

"Then refer to that frame." Gwen pointed at the screen. "That square of darkness in the center'—what is it?"

Yorick leaned forward, squinting. Then he shook his head. "Can't tell yet, Lady Gallowglass. When we're closer, maybe."

The tiny square started growing. It swelled until it filled the screen. Moonlight silvered the dark square, revealing textures.

"Treetops!" Chomoi exclaimed.

Yorick stared. "Did you drop us lower, or did you just make the picture get bigger?"

Chornoi pointed. "See that silver thread straggling kitty-corner across it? Has to be a stream."

"I think it's a park, Lady Gallowglass."

"Then there should be few folk about," Gwen said, with growing excitement. "'Twill make a good landing field."

The park swelled in the screen. They could see individual trees, which moved off to the edges of the screen as they grew.

Gwen concentrated all of her attention on the screen.

The stream grew broader and broader, filling the center of the screen. Then it drifted off to the right and out of the screen entirely.

Chornoi and Yorick stared for a few seconds, holding their breath. The wreck jolted violently, slamming everybody back against their acceleration couches.

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