The Leagacy of Heorot by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle & Steven Barnes

Author:Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle & Steven Barnes [Niven, Larry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf

Chapter 17

RESCUE

No man quite believes in any other man.

H. L. MENCKEN, Prejudices

"But what could have happened?" Zack demanded.

Cadmann guided Skeeter One through the twisting canyon, barely noticing the naked rock walls rising to either side. "Don't know." The west side of the canyon was growing rapidly darker. The smaller sun cast shadows much sharper than he'd been used to on Earth. It made judging distances harder. Cadmann moved the Skeeter toward the brightly-lit eastern wall. It was banded in orange and pale reds. "Don't know. Damn pretty country here."

"Yeah, sure—how can you be so calm?"

"I'm not, but what's the use of getting excited until there's something to do?"

"Yeah. You're right." Zack took a deep breath. "Those walls are pretty. Like the Australian outback. Ever go there?"

"No, the U.N. never needed soldiers out there."

"It was a rock. Cadmann, it had to be a rock."

"A rock that got two boats?"

"Why not? And we don't know that Elliot's boat is gone—"

"Like hell we don't." Cadmann's mouth was a grim line. "Look, Zack, you can kid yourself about interpretation, but not about what we heard, and the last thing we heard was La Donna screaming. And the last thing we saw?"

"You saw. I ran the tape and I didn't see what you saw."

"Oh, maybe I didn't see it either. There was something. Something dark in the water near Carlos's raft, something that I swear was moving across the current... well, no, I won't swear." Cadmann spoke into his comcard. "Skeeter Two."

"Here," Stu Ellington answered.

"We're coming up to the bend. You go right across the canyon, down to the rapids, and turn back. We'll start the search at the upstream end."

"Roger. Goddam, I'm glad you're with us."

"Me too," Zack said carefully. "I'm still hoping we don't find—"

"Nobody had to remind you to bring your rifle. And damned if that spare clip doesn't look loaded with incendiaries."

Zack grunted. "I'm not going to be stupid about it."

Skeeter Two rounded the bend ahead. Cadmann had just made the turn when Stu's voice came through the radio. "I've spotted wreckage downstream, but no sign of—holy shit! Nine o'clock."

Cadmann's eyes flashed to the left, and for a moment all he saw was the sheer rock face of the gorge. Then he focused, and he saw the creature, perched like a house cat on a bookshelf, only a dozen meters above a stranded Carlos.

"Straight in. Surprise. Shoot when you have a target," Cadmann ordered. It's not moving. Just sitting there. A little closer—"Zack, make the first shots count. Maybe it will forget about Carlos and head for the river. Stu!" He shouted into the radio. "You check the river! Look for other monsters."

"Look for Elliot and La Donna and Bobbi, too," Zack said.

Cadmann spun the Skeeter to hover twenty meters from the canyon wall.

"Now!" he shouted.

Zack shouldered his rifle and squeezed off a burst. Spent shells whirred out of the rifle breech in a glittering arc.

The monster twisted, turned toward the Skeeter, then swiveled wildly, searching the river and the cliff above, finally looking back at the Skeeter.

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