Varian, suddenly mobile, was peering over the bottom of the far window, her left arm dangling uselessly.
Varian. said Lunzie, doing something to the still body of Trizein. The man groaned suddenly, shocked back to consciousness. Lunzie moved to Terilla and Cleiti, nodding to herself as she administered restorative sprays.
He's at the veil, reported Varian in a low voice. He's opened it. He's left it open. I can see two others sky-borne. Bakkun and Berru probably. We ought to have a few moments when the herd tops the last rise when they won't be able to see anything.
Triv! Kai gestured and the geologist followed him to the rear arc of the dome, motioning the others to one side.
Kai's sensitized fingers felt the fine seam of the plastic skin. Triv placed his fingertips further up the seam. They both took the requisite deep breaths, called out and ripped the tough fabric apart.
Lunzie had the two girls on their feet, staggering but conscious enough to stand. She turned to help Trizein.
Where could Bonnard have gone to, Kai? asked Varian in a tight voice that betrayed an anxiety not even the Discipline could mask.
Well hidden enough to elude the heavy-worlders. Safe enough from what's coming. Now, and he turned to his comrades. We cannot panic, but we must wait until the exact moment when the sky-borne heavy-worlders cannot see us or they will merely stun us down. Margit, Aulia, Portegin, you're all able to run? They nodded. Lunzie, you'll take Terilla? Is Gaber dead? Well, Aulia, you and Portegin help Cleiti. Triv will carry Trizein. I'll help Dimenon. Varian, can you manage?
As well as you. I'll back us up.
I will, said Kai, shaking his head and looking at her hanging arm.
No, you've Dimenon. I'll manage. She glanced out the window again.
It did not take sensitive hearing now to hear the approaching stampede. It did take stern control to remain calm.
There are four in the sky now, said Varian, and the beasts have reached the narrow part of the approach. Get ready.
Aulia stifled a cry of fear.
Everyone, breath deeply from the diaphragm, said Lunzie, and when we give you the word, to go, yell and run! Keep yelling. It stirs the adrenalin.
I don't need any more, said Margit in a tremulous but defiant voice.
The thunder was deafening, the very plastic shook under their feet. Aulia was trembling so noticeably, Kai wondered if she could stand the strain.
NOW!
Their concerted yells would never reach the sky-borne heavy-worlders. Margit was right, there was no need of additional adrenalin. The sight of the bobbing heads of the crested dinosaurs, bearing down on them, was sufficient to have lent wings to anyone. Dimenon, yelling at the top of his lungs, wrestled from Kai's support and outdistanced others as he made for the shuttle. Kai slowed his pace until Varian was abreast of him. Then the two leaders matched strides in the wake of the others, across a compound shuddering with the vibrations of the stampede. They vaulted the first terrace of the incline, nearly running down Lunzie as she angled Trizein into the lock. Varian steadied the physician as Kai fumbled for the lock control. The first of the herbivores reached the force-screen.
A high-pitched scream pierced through the overlying thunder and bellowing as the screen burned, flashed blue fire and broke, with a terrible whining. The bodies of herbivores flowed into the compound, and then the mass behind the forerunners surged up, over the fallen and onward. The iris closed on that scene. Only the noise and vibration did not seem to diminish inside the shuttle, telling of the chaos, death and destruction outside.
As one now, Kai and Varian moved through the panting, shocked members of the expedition to the pilot cabin. Varian fumbled for the hidden switch to restore power to the shuttle. Kai started to sit at the console and stopped.
Paskutti took no chances on another message, he told Varian, looking at the wreckage of the board.
What about maneuvering?
That's still intact. He knew what circuits to break all right.
They felt the shuttle move, heard something banging dully against the outer hull.
They outdid themselves with the stampede, said Varian with an amused chuckle. She heard the startled exclamations from the main compartment and put her head around the frame.
It'll take more than herbivores to dent the shuttle ceramic. Don't worry. But I would sit down. She slid into the other seat, moving her useless arm out of her way when it flopped against the backrest. As soon as the stampede has stopped, we'd better make our move.
Bonnard? asked Kai.
Bonnard! Portegin echoed the name in a glad cry in the main cabin. Bonnard! Kai, Varian. He got in!
The leaders saw the boy emerging from the lab, his ship suit dusty and stained, his face drawn with a sudden maturity.
I thought this was the safest place after I saw Paskutti moving you out. But I wasn't sure who had come back in. Am I glad it's you?
Cleiti was embracing her friend, weeping with relief. Terilla, bedded down by Trizein, called his name over and over, not quite believing his appearance. Bonnard gently put Cleiti's clinging hands to one side and walked to the leaders.
They'll never find those power packs, Varian. Never! But I thought you'd be killed when I saw Paskutti lock the dome. He smashed the control so I didn't see how I could get you out in time. So . . . I . . . hid! The boy burst into tears of shame.
You did exactly as you should, Bonnard. Even to hiding!
Another shift of the shuttle sent everyone rocking.
It's going to fall, cried Aulia, hands over her ears.
It could, but it won't crack, said Kai, feeling the same post-crisis elation that had made Varian chuckle. Stay calm. We've succeeded so far. We'll survive!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Although Kai's wrist chrono showed that only twenty minutes had elapsed from the moment they had reached the pilot's cabin, it had seemed an age of repeated shocks and jolts until all external noise ceased.
After a moment of silence, Kai opened the iris lock enough to peer out. And saw nothing but mottled coarse furred hide.
He stepped back, gesturing for Varian to look out.
Buried alive in Hadrasaurs, she said, irrepressible. Her eyes were very bright, her face lined with the strain of maintaining Discipline over the agony of her crushed and broken shoulder. Open wider. They're too big to fall in.
With a wider view, they achieved only the vision of more bodies, darkness beyond. Kai reluctantly decided that they'd have to send Bonnard, who was agile and small enough, to assess the new position of the shuttle. Bonnard was warned to keep a low profile in case the heavy-worlders were about.
"You might remember that it is now full dark," Lunzie said." They don't have good night vision. If they are out there."
Where else would they be? demanded Aulia, hysteria in her shaking voice. Gloating! Delighted with themselves. I've never liked working with heavy-worlders. They always think they're abused and misused and they're really not good for anything but heavy muscle work.
Oh, do be quiet, Aulia, said Lunzie. Go on with you, Bonnard, see if we have a clear passage for the shuttle. I'll be as glad to put a lot of distance between myself and the heavy-worlders as anyone else in this shuttle. She handed him a night-mask and gave him a reassuring and approving grin.
Portegin, would you check the control panel's circuitry? asked Kai. Varian, let Lunzie see to that arm now we've a spare moment.
If, after that, Lunzie gets a crack at your hand, Leader Kai.
No ifs about it. I do you first, him next, said Lunzie, reaching for her belt pouch. At least they left me something to work with.
Why bother patching any of us? demanded Aulia, sinking to the deck, head in her arms. We can't last long on this planet. Paskutti was right about that. And they've got everything we need!