Survival from Infinity by Roger Elwood

Author:Roger Elwood [Elwood, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0531026663
Publisher: Franklin Watts
Published: 1974-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Ssaynahr’s expression, as far as Burk could tell he had an expression, remained calm. “To me, they are the same,” he said.

“Visual sensitivity,” suggested Burk. “He probably doesn’t perceive colors the way we do.”

Jensen ignored the comment. “You’re sure none of your people knows where there are other rocks that look like this?” he insisted.

Ssaynahr was firmly certain. “This is the one place for any such rock. If there were other places, I would have told you.”

Jensen snorted in disgust, jammed the sample back in his pocket, and strode out of the cave.

“I sorrow that your egg-brother is displeased,” said Ssaynahr.

“We thank you for bringing us here,” said Burk. “Jensen is not our egg-brother, by the way. He can look in other places for the rocks he seeks. Shall we go back outside?”

“I think I’ll sit here for a minute,” said Marston, setting his handflash on a rock ledge. “I’ve developed a dandy cramp where my leg was jammed against the scanner housing.”

Ssaynahr drifted toward the back of the cave, looking closely at the rock formations. Burk sat beside Marston just as Jensen strolled back in. his temper evidently restored.

“We may as well start back for camp,” Jensen announced briskly. “If we follow the path we came by, we should get back just after dawn.”

“You know,” said Marston, massaging his leg, “it was odd about your meeting with the Ssarnohrians. You say there were hundreds of them all around you?”

Jensen stopped buckling the scanner back into its case. “Several hundred, I’d say. Wouldn’t you agree, Burk?” Burk nodded. “Several hundred at least.”

“I was trying to correlate your beacon signals with the SLS, to double-check the fix on your location,” said Marston, “and all I got on the SLS was just the three strong traces—yours, Burk’s, and that squiggly signal Ssaynahr makes—nothing else.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said Burk. “We both saw their eyes—hundreds of them—and heard them moving around up on the terraces.”

“But Ssaynahr wouldn’t let you use your handflash for long,” murmured Jensen thoughtfully, “and there’s something about those reflecting eyes. . . .” He stopped abruptly, then started unbuckling the scanner case. “You and Marston go back down to the groundrover,” he ordered. “Get everything stowed for the trip back. I want to talk a few minutes with Ssaynahr; show him how the scanner reacts to real Dluerite. Ssaynahr!” he called.

The alien appeared at the shadowed back reaches of the cave and started their way. Jensen turned to Burk.

“Well, go on. What are you waiting for?” he snapped irritably.

Burk shouldered the tool kit as Marston retrieved his handflash. Jensen waited until he could hear them crunching down the slope.

“I want a private talk with you, Ssaynahr,” Jensen began, easing his stunner from its belt clasp. “Marston just told me that the only thinking creatures at our big meeting in the desert were you, Burk, and I. What do you say to that?”

“My people were there, Jenssohn. You saw them.”

“Did I? What I saw were hundreds of eyes reflecting the light from

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.