THE PERILOUS SEAS
The through the in family groups, and the Terrans saw that the enterprise had another upon the district, for there were from more than just Paft's own clan. All the Salariki were and the parties together in excitement. It was plain that this hunt, upon a large scale, was not only a means of upon a enemy but, also, a event of prestige.
Now the trees to gaps, open their clumps, until the was only groups and the party the Terrans had joined walked along a in knee-high, yellow-red growth. Most of the Salariki torches, some having four or five together, as if must be done after nightfall. And it was late in the they a of ground and looked out upon one of Sargol's seas.
The water was a dull-metallic gray, by great of as if an artist had a of color across it in a or miss fashion. Sand of the red grit, by the which in the sun, to the of the with only on the of earth. The of in ranks out—crowned with trees all under the sea wind.
They came out upon the beach where one of the touched the and Dane noted that it left a deposit there. The Terrans on to the water's edge. Where it was clear of the they a of the bottom, but the long of and wave, and Dane if the used it as a covering.
For the moment the Salariki no move toward the sea which was to be their ground. Instead the members of the party, some of were not yet to wear the knife of manhood, spread out along the and set to driftwood, which they to on the sand. Dane, that harvest, of a length. He called Weeks' attention to the water cylinder.
The oiler's and he to it up. Where the other were from trees this was something else. And among the it had the of flame. For it was a scarlet. Weeks it over in his hands, his across its perfect grain. Even in this it had beauty. He stopped the Salarik who had just in another of wood.
"This is what?" he spoke the Trade Lingo haltingly.
The native at the branch. "Tansil," he answered. "It on the islands—" He a to a good of the western sea he away.
Weeks now along the line on his own quest, Dane him. At the end of a hour when a them to the site of the now fire, they had some ten pieces of the them. The from a three some four in diameter, to some no larger than a steelo—but all with high polish, the warm coloring. Weeks them together he joined the group where Groft was the of for the of the Terrans.
Some two hundred away a reef, often and with the scum, out into the sea in a long which a natural breakwater. This was the point of attack. But the must be so that land and sea meet on common terms.
The fire up, into the driftwood. And from it ran the Salariki with brands, which at the water's they about their and then out onto the patches. Fire from the water and ran with speed across the of the low waves, while the Salariki and their in their perfume boxes, for the wind an stench.
Where the fire had on the water there was now only the natural of the liquid, the was gone. Older Salariki were from those they had brought, doing it with care. Groft approached the Terrans four.
"These you use now—"
What for? Dane wondered. The sky was still sunlit. He the to see how the Salariki use of them.
Groft the advance—running out along the with and to the where the sea in over the rock. And after him the other natives, each with a in hand—the they to plant in some of the taking a that beacon.
The Terrans, less in the space boots, their way along the same path, wet with spray, their against the of the from the water.
Following the example of the Salariki they seaward—but Dane did not know what to watch for. Cam had left only the of and the that they were reptilian, and dangerous, the Terrans had not been briefed.
Once the had taken up their along the reef, the Salariki into action once more. Lighting more at the fire, they ran out along the line of their and their as as they them into the sea the reef.
The of the water was now yellow with the of the sun. But that and gold more yet as the of the Salariki set up of scum. Dane his against the and to watch the water, with some idea that this move must be and what they would so be into view.
He his sleep ready, just as the Salarik on his right had knife in one hand and in the other, open and waiting, the to and fast a victim, him for the kill.
But it was at the of the barrier—the post of which Groft had as his, that the first. At a wild of Dane to see the Salarik his at sea level and then with a well blow. When he his arm for a second thrust, ran from the his wrist.
"Dane!"
Thorson's around. He saw the of for the where he balanced.
But he'd have to wait for a than a moving of water. Instinctively he in the of an spaceman, now that he did have a blaster.
Neither of the Salariki on either of him any move and he that was etiquette. Each man was to and kill the that him—without assistance. And upon his skill the next minutes might the of all Terrans as as the were concerned.
There was a the surface of the water now, but he not see well of the of the waves. He must wait until he was sure.
Then the thing gave a and, only the of his boots, a out of the water, as long as his own arms at him. Without being of his act, he pressed the of the sleep rod, in the direction of that from the sea.
But to his the did not into world from which it had emerged. Instead those again, this time across the top of Dane's foot, a in material the of not have scored.
"Give it to him!" That was Rip from his own place along the reef.
Dane pressed the again and again. The as the from a frog's mouth, a mouth which was with a shark's teeth. It was almost out of the water, on a crab's many legs, with a upper for him, when it stopped, its from to in the of natural armor. It settled as if for a final spring—a which would push Dane into the ocean.
But that attack came. Instead the in upon itself until it an of and there it remained.
The Salariki on either of Dane let out of and closer. One of them his suggestively, that the Terran what was to him an piece of equipment. Dane in agreement and the out in a which the on the reef. But it was so protected by its that there was no opening for the knife. They had a but they not make a kill.
However, the Salariki were delighted. And their to help the boys the where it was to the beach by through the of the net.
But the party was little time to over this of fortune. The killed by Groft and the one by Dane were only the of an army and moments the on the were by trouble with and ability.
The was anything but one-sided. Dane whirled, as the air was rent by a of agony, just in time to see one of the Salariki, already by the of a gorp, being under the water. It was too late to save the hunter, though Dane, on the very of the reef, a into the waves. If the was by this attack he not tell, for and no longer be seen.
But Ali had luck in the Salarik who his particular of reef, and the native, and blood from a in his thigh, was to safety. While the gorp, too slowly under the Terran ray, was to pieces by the of the hunter's kin.
The into a series of on now by the light of the as the closed in. The last of the had away to nothing. Dane by his torch, his on the sea, for an of another on its way to against the barrier.
There was such wild along that line of water that he had no idea of how the was going. But so the no of having had enough.
Dane was out of his by another scream. One, he was sure, which had not come from any Salariki throat. He got to his feet. Rip was four men him. Yes, the tall Astrogator-apprentice was there, against flare. Ali? No—there was the Engineer. Weeks? But Weeks was his way along the toward the shore, in every line of his figure. The for a second time, the Terrans.
"Come back—!" That was Weeks at the and something in the protecting circle of the reef. The Salariki who had been the fire were now at the water's edge.
Ali ran and with a the last feet, landing in the waves. Dane saw light on his as he it in a wide to center on the the water into foam. A third died to a and then the Salariki into the sea, their spread, with them through the a dark and now mass.
The that at least one had managed to on the of the an on the of the native hunters. After an minute or two Groft gave the to withdraw—which they did with trophies. Dane seven bodies—which did not the ashore. And more might have into the sea to die. On the other hand two Salariki were dead—one had been into the sea Dane's eyes—and at least one was wounded. But who had been in the shallows—some one sent out from the Queen with a message?
Dane along the reef, not waiting to up his torch, and he the Rip was him. But the man who on the was not from the Queen. The and his had the I-S badge. Ali was already at work on his wounds, temporary from his kit. To all their questions he was silent—either he couldn't or wouldn't answer.
In the end they helped the Salariki three stretchers. On one the largest, the gorp, still in a protected ball, was with the net. The second supported the Salarik and onto the third the Terrans the I-S man.
"We'll deliver him to his own ship," Rip decided. "He must have us here as a spy—" He asked a Salarik as to where they the Company spacer.
"They might just think we are responsible," Ali pointed out. "But I see your point. If we do pack him to the Queen and he doesn't make it, they might say that we his for him. All right, boys, let's up-ship—he doesn't look too good to me."
With a torch-bearing Salarik boy as a guide, they along a path taking in the of the stretcher. Luckily the I-S ship was closer to the sea than the Queen and as they the ground, by the fire, they were trotting.
Though the Company ship was one of the smallest Inter-Solar on her rosters, it was a third again as large as the Queen—with part of that third to space. Beside her their own would not only smaller, but and worn. But no Free Trader would have the of a Company man, not for the of such a ship fresh from the of a builder.
When a man up from the Pool for his assignment, he was sent to the ship where his temperament, and best fitted. And those who were as Free Traders would fit into the pattern of Company men. Of late years the those who under the of one of the five great wide and those still too much of an to live any life but that of a half-explorer-half-pioneer which was the Free Trader's, had alarmingly. Antagonism flared, was strong. But as yet the great Companies themselves were at cold with one another for the big of the systems. The Free Traders took the and there was not much disputing—save in cases such as had on Sargol, when the of very rich cake, rich and large to a giant.
The party from the Queen was a challenge as they the other ship's ramp. Rip to see the officer of the watch and then told the of the man as as they it. The Eysie was aboard—nor did his give a word of thanks.
"That's that." Rip shrugged. "Let's go they the so hard they'll their ship off her fins!"
"Polite, aren't they?" asked Weeks mildly.
"What do you of Eysies?" Ali wanted to know. "To them Free Traders are just trash. Let's report where we are appreciated."
They took a cut which them to the Queen and they up her to make their report to the Captain.
But they were not yet satisfied with Groft and his slayers. No Salarik appeared for in the morning—surprising the Terrans. Instead a second delegation, this time of older men and a priest, visited the with an to Paft's feast, a which would be by the of Groft to his father's position, now that he had that parent. And from by members of the it was plain that the of the Terrans who had joined the party was to have been in with Salariki tradition.
They to decide which two must with the ship and the themselves so as to give no which might their now relations. Again it was mid-afternoon when the Salariki sent to do them waited at the of the and Mura and Tang saw them off. With a them, they the earth road in the opposite direction from the center, off through the until they came to a wide of miles which had been of any which might give to a enemy. In the center of this was a twelve-foot-high of the red, which had Weeks on the shore. Each was the of a tree and it had been at the top to a point. On the was a wide ditch, at the gate by a bridge, the of which might be at will. And as Dane passed over he looked into the that was dry. The Salariki did not upon water for a defense—but on something else which his of the previous night had him to respect. There was no that of purple. The the had from the top of the had been and a some eight below. It would only be necessary to a on that and the of the would create a of fire to any attackers. The Salariki how to make the most of their world's natural resources.
