Return to the Battle
Ross to the from across the cabin. He had in that quick from sleep to which was always his when on duty, but he no attempt to move. Ashe was still sleeping.
Ashe, he or had he as well as one man know another, who had taken the place of family for Ross Murdock the loner. Years—two ... four of them now since he had of that partnership.
His turned, though he not see that body, that quiet, face. Ashe still looked the same, but ... Ross's of was and anger mingled. What had they done to Gordon, those three? Bewitched? Tales Terrans had as purest for centuries came into his mind. Could it be that his own world once had its Foanna?
Ross scowled. You couldn't their "magic," call it by what scientific name you wished—hypnotism ... telaporting. They got results, and the results were impressive. Now he the the Foanna themselves had delivered hours to the Rovers. There were limits to their abilities; they were to on and physical energy, they be exhausted. Thus, they had barriers, too.
Again Ross the of barriers. Karara had been able to meet the aliens, if not mind-to-mind, then in a closer way than Ashe. The which her to the had in turn been a with the Foanna. Ashe and Karara enter that circle, but not Ross Murdock. Along with his new from Ashe came that of to bite on, and the taste was sour.
"This isn't going to be easy."
So Ashe was awake.
"What can they do?" Ross asked in return.
"I don't know. I don't that they can an army into Baldy the way Torgul expects. And it wouldn't do such an army much good to there and then be by the the Baldies might have," Ashe said.
Ross had a moment of and comfort; he that of old. Ashe was studying the problem, to talk out as he always had before.
"No, isn't the answer. We'll have to know more about the enemy. One thing puzzles me: Why have the Baldies up their timing?"
"What makes you think they have?"
"Well, according to the I've heard, it's been about three or four years here since some off-world have been the native civilization—"
"You such as those set up on the at Zahur's castle?" Ross Loketh's story.
"Those, and other things. The added to the engine power on these ships.... Torgul said they spread from Rover to fleet; no one's sure where they started. The Baldies slowly, but they are up now—those have all been recent. And this on the Foanna up almost on a excuse. Why the quick push after the slow beginning?"
"Maybe they the are easy and they no longer have to worry about any opposition," Ross suggested.
"Could be. Self-confidence when they didn't any to matter. Or else, they may be by some need with a time limit. If we the for those pylons, we might their motives."
"Are you going to try to the future?"
"That arrogant, too. Can we if we wish to? We to try it on Terra. And the may be than all our fears. Also, the choice is not ours."
"There's one thing I don't understand," Ross said. "Why did the Foanna walk out of the and it for their enemies? What about their guards? Did they just them too?" He was to make the most of any in the aliens' character.
"Most of their people had already through ways. The left when they the had been sunk," Ashe returned. "As to why they the citadel, I don't know. The was theirs."
There—up with the them again. But Ross to accept the this time, to Ashe into the familiar world of the here and now.
"That keep be a trap, about the best on this planet!" The idea was more than just a to Ashe's attention, it was true! A perfect to catch Baldies.
"Don't you see," Ross sat up, his on the as he eagerly. "Don't you see ... if the Baldies know anything at all about the Foanna, and I'm they do and want to learn all they can, they'll visit the citadel. They won't want to on second- and third-hand reports of the place, ones delivered by such as the Wreckers. They had a there. I'll the are in over the right now!"
"If that's what they're hunting"—there was in Ashe's tone—"they won't much. The Foanna have than their have keys. You Ynlan we left—any left will secrets."
"But there's bait—bait for a trap!" Ross.
"You're right!" To the man's Ashe's was plain. "And if the Baldies be to that what they wanted was with just a little more effort, or the right tools—"
"The catch than just underlings!" Ross's matched Ashe's. "Why, it might in the VIP the whole operation! How can we set it up, and do we have time?"
"The would have to be of Foanna setting; our part would come after it was sprung." Ashe was again. "But it is the only move which we can make at present with any of success. And it will only work if the Foanna are willing."
"Have to be done quickly," Ross pointed out.
"Yes, I'll see." Ashe was a dark against the thin light of the as he the door. "If Ynvalda agrees...." As he out Ross was right him.
The Foanna had been given, by their own choice, on the of the where had been used to a tent. Not that any of the awe-stricken Rovers would too near them. Ashe for the of the and a voice called:
"You us, Gordoon?"
"This is important."
"Yes, it is important, for the which you has merit. Enter then, brothers!"
The was and them was a of mist? ... light? ... of color? Ross not have what he saw—save if the Foanna were there, he not them from the of their hair, the melting of their robes.
"So, brother, you think that which was our home and our box has now a for the of those who we are a threat to them?"
Somehow Ross was not that they about his idea he had said a word, Ashe had any explanations. Their was only a small of their other talents.
"Yes."
"And why do you so? We to you that the can not be into those parts of the which the most, any more than our sea gate can be unless we will it so."
"Yet I through the sea gate, and the was there also." Ross again a of—was it pleasure?—at being able to this fact. There were in the Foanna defenses.
"Again the truth. You have that you, brother, which is a and a shield. True also that this ship entered after you. Perhaps it has a as part of it; those from the have their own protection. But they can not the of what they wish, not unless we open the doors for them. It is your belief, brother, that they still to such doors?"
"Yes. Knowing there is something to be learned, they will try for it. They will not not to." Ross was very on that point. His with the Baldies had not to any understanding. But the way they had out the line of Russian time him sure that they with any they a threat.
From the taken at Kyn Add they had learned the the Foanna their here, though the Old Ones had not them or their activities. Therefore, it that, having taken the stronghold, the Baldies would to open every one of its secrets.
"A with good bait—"
Ross which one of the Foanna said that. To see nothing but the of mist-color, to voices from it, was disconcerting. Part of the stage dressing, he decided, for their with the other with they dealt. Three alone would have to their authority with such trappings.
"Ah, brother, you are to us!" Laughter, soft, but unmistakable.
Ross frowned. He did not the touch-go-touch of which the used. But he did not that the Foanna read his thoughts, or at least a of them.
"Some of them," from the mist. "Not all—not as your older brother's or the mind meets with ours. With you, brother, it is a here, a there, and only our to them into a pattern. But now, there is to be done. And, this enemy, you they will come to search for what they can not find. So you would set a trap. But they have your weapons, have they not, brother? Brave as are these Rover kind, they can not use against flame, their hands against a who may and slay. What remains, Gordoon? What in our favor?"
"You have your weapons, too," Ashe answered.
"Yes, we have our weapons, but long have they been used only in one pattern, and they are to another race. Did our against you, Gordoon, when you to prove that you were as you to be? And did another when he the sea gate? So can we trust them in turn against these other with different brains? Only at the shall we know, and in such learning we shall also be to eat the of defeat. To all may be to all."
"That may be true," Ashe assented.
"You the you have had into our says that this happens? Yes, to all and to lose—not only for ourselves, but for all others here—that is a to make, Gordoon. But the promises. Let us think on it for a space. Do you also with the Rovers if they wish to take part in what may be folly."
Torgul the afterdeck, well away from the which the Foanna, but with his to it as Ross what might be a good attack.
"Those women-killers would have no of Foanna magic, would they come to it out? It would be a to catch in a trap?"
"You have what the said or thought. Yes, they would out such knowledge and we would have this to them—"
"With what?" Torgul demanded. "I am not Ongal to argue that it is to die in of blood payment than to take an enemy or with me! What have we against their powers?"
"Ask that of them!" Ross toward the still tent.
Even as he spoke the three Foanna emerged, to mid-ship where Torgul and his lieutenants, Ross and Ashe came to meet them.
"We have on this." The which the Foanna used for ordinary was a song in the wind. "It was in our minds to retreat, to wait out this of the land, since we are and that which we us is the guarding. But now, what profit such when there may be none to we may pass it after us? And if you have the truth, brother"—the to Ashe—"then there may be no for any of us. But still there are our limitations. Rover," now they spoke directly to Torgul, "we can not put your men the by desiring—not without which sealed there now. No, we, ourselves, must win and then ... then, perhaps, we can tight the lines of our net!"
"To a through the gate—" Torgul began.
"No, not a ship, Captain. A of in the water can the gate, but not a ship."
Ashe in, "How many gill-packs do we have?"
Ross hurriedly. "I left one ashore. But there's mine and Karara's and Loketh's—also two more—"
"To pass the gates," that was the Foanna, "we ourselves shall not need your aids."
"You," Ross said to Ashe, "and I with Karara's pack——"
"For Karara!"
Both the Terrans looked around. The Polynesian girl close to the Foanna, faintly.
"This is mine also," she spoke with conviction. "As it is Tino-rau's and Taua's. Is that not so, Daughters of the Alii of this world?"
"Yes, Sea Maid. There are of many sorts, and not all of them fit into a warrior's hand or can be with the of a man's arm and shoulder. Yes, this is yours, also, sister."
Ross's unspoken; he had to accept the of the Foanna decree. It now that the make-up of their upon the of the three than the of those to such risks. And Ashe was to accept their leadership.
So it was an odd company that took to the water just as the sky. Loketh had to his pack, that he be one of the swimmers, and the Foanna him as well. Ross and Ashe, Loketh, and Baleku, a under-officer of Ongal's, the best of the fleet, Karara and the dolphins. And with them those three others, through the water, as difficult to in this new as they had been in their tent. Before them the dolphins. Tino-rau and Taua played about the Foanna in an and when all were in the sea they off shoreward.
That the sea gate, had it the same as the one at Kyn Add? But the give if that were so.
Ross easily, Ashe next, Loketh on his left, Baleku a little and Karara to the as if in of the dolphins—the Foanna well to the left. A party, when one up the which might ahead.
There was no or this to the where the Foanna stood. And the of the sea gate were clear in the light. The same drive which always was a part of Ross when he was to action him now, though he was visited by a small of when he that the did not with Ashe but with the Foanna.
No of any trouble ahead as they passed the mighty, sea-sunk of the gate pillars. Ross upon his sonic, but there was no report from the recorder. The terrible of the water the night attack had been dissipated, but here and there sea floated, being and by of the waves.
They were well past the when Ross was aware that Loketh had place in the line, ahead. After him Baleku. They up with Karara, past her.
Ross looked to Ashe, on to the Foanna, but saw nothing to the action of the two Hawaikans. Then his out a from Ashe.
"Danger ... the Foanna ... left."
Karara had already to in that direction. Ahead of her he see Loketh and Baleku still for the mid-point of the where the and the were. Ashe passed him, and Ross orders.
A of out from the wall, under it a dark opening. The Foanna this without hesitation, Ashe, Karara, and Ross following. Moments later they were out of the water where and up. Below them Tino-rau and Taua the rise, their out of the water as they "spoke." And Karara to reply.
"Loketh ... Baleku ..." Ross when he a of anger so that it was a into his brain. He the Foanna, and a little frightened.
"They will not come—now." A knob-crowned out in the air, pointing to the upper of the slope. "Nor can any of their blood—unless we win."
"What is wrong?" Ashe asked.
"You were right, very right, men out of time! These are not to be dismissed. They have one of our own against us. Loketh, Baleku, all of their kind, can be into for a master. They to the enemy now."
"And we have failed so early?" Karara wanted to know.
Again that of anger so that it was no but a force.
"Failed? No, not yet have we to fight! You were very right; this is such an as must be and fought, if we all in battle! Now we must do that which none of our own has done for generations—we must open three locks, wide the Great Door, and out the Keeper of the Closed Knowledge!"
Light, a from the of the wand. And the Foanna that beam, the three Terrans after ... into the unknown.
